What is the Ipsos Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit?

Sharon, tell us a little bit about you and how you came to Ipsos?

At the beginning of 2016 I retired from the Department of Social Services after nearly 18 years of being a Public Servant. I really enjoyed my position as the Community Engagement Manager for Footprints in Time – the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children, but after 12 years I really felt the study was in a good place for me to leave to have a rest and take some time out to look after my mum. However, my rest was short and 3 weeks later I started with Ipsos to set up the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit (ATSIRU).

What is the Ipsos Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit? 

This unit was developed in February 2016 with a view to undertaking research within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with and as rather than on and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  We strive to ensure that the research and evaluation projects we conduct with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are ethically sound and undertaken in a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner.

We are a specialist Australian team within Ipsos becoming known for undertaking quality, culturally sensitive research projects with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the most over researched people in the world, but how has all this been used? Over the years I heard many stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that they are confused or do not understand how their data or stories have been used, how they have been interpreted or even if their stories have made a difference.

At Ipsos ATSIRU we are striving to ensure that we take the reports back to the people who shared their stories or data, that they understand how their stories or data have been used to tell the story and to ensure we are showing the “true voices” of the people who share their stories.

Project work has included significant studies for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and other federal departments, as well as state government Departments and several corporate clients including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Practise Reforms (A family led decision making trial), Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility, Empowerment (OCHRE), a response to recommendations of the Ministerial Taskforce on Aboriginal Affairs, the NSW Auditor General and NSW Ombudsman and Stronger Communities for Children, to name just a few.

Sharon, in your experience, how should we be working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities?

We understand our role as researchers is to give all people a voice through the work that we do. Our work within the Ipsos ATSIRU is done so that we work with and as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and do not do Research/Evaluations on and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This ensures that these voices are authentic and truly represent their community.

We seek to give our people in communities’ empowerment to conduct the research/evaluation in a way that best represents the needs, opinions and experiences of that community as it relates to any given project objectives. We acknowledge that every community we work in is different and so a “one size fits all approach” does not work and we need to be flexible in our methodologies.

We also employ local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people within their communities, provide them with training, support, mentoring and supervision in order for them to succeed in becoming local researchers for their communities.

Finally, in 2016, Ipsos announced the creation of the Ipsos Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group. This Advisory Group was formed to support the Ipsos ATSIRU on ethical and culturally sensitive research projects and to give Ipsos advice on the diversity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Ultimately this Advisory Group helps us to achieve our purpose of working with and as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the Ipsos Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group?

Membership of the Advisory Group is comprised of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a diverse knowledge of culture and understanding of ethical guidelines to support and share knowledge with Ipsos.

The Advisory Group is co-chaired by ANU’s Professor Michael Dodson AM and Professor Maggie Walter from the University of Tasmania and meets once a year to advise Ipsos on the development of Ethical Guidelines for research with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. Additionally, the Advisory Group supports the unit to ensure that the research it conducts is ethically robust and culturally appropriate, given the diversity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and societies in Australia, each with its own mixture of cultures, customs, laws and more than 120 surviving languages.

(From left to right): Professor Michael Dodson AM, Ms Vanessa Davis, Professor Maggie Walter, Ms Eunice Yu, Ms Katrina Fanning, Ms Denise Foster, Ms Sharon Barnes, Dr Blaze Kwaymullina, Mr Michael Barnes Mr Roland Wilson, Mr Eliziah Wasaga and Mr Aven Noah Missing from photo; Ms Debra Reid, Dr Lawurrpa Maypilama

What’s next for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit?

Since its inception in 2016, the Ipsos ATSIRU has grown from one dedicated team member to three, with many more staff working on projects with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders around the country, and we expect this to be just the start!

In addition to our core team, in 2018 we intend to offer 2 three-month work experience positions to two young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from Badu Island, a remote island off the north of Australia with the intention of supporting these youths through the transition from high school to university.

Finally, by working together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, we aim to ultimately progress knowledge and inform public policy. This will contribute towards improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and raising awareness of the challenges they face and the successes they achieve.

More about Sharon  

Sharon is a Ngunnawal Aboriginal woman. Sharon joined Ipsos Public Affairs as the Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Unit (ATSIRU) in February 2016. As lead for the ATSIRU Sharon is passionate about ensuring that any research and/or evaluations are done the ‘right way’ for her people.

Sharon is a member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the ABS Indigenous Roundtable. Sharon has worked extensively across many remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
When Sharon isn’t out in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities she loves to spend time with her family (including 7 grandchildren), swimming and gardening.