Collaboration and capacity development through the employment of Aboriginal community-based researchers: Examples from the interplay project

The Ninti One Aboriginal Community Researcher (ACR) Program is about providing opportunities for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with strong family connections to a remote community. ACRs bring expertise such as language, literature, art and culture. They are specialists on their culture and community and through their employment, this program aims to improve research quality as well as empowering people to construct sustainable and healthy remote communities. With a focus on health and wellbeing, the 'Interplay' project1 has developed a model of working with ACRs that focuses on collaboration and capacity development. It allows room for quality learning to take place between people from all walks of life. This paper provides an overview of the ACR program and shares some of the learnings from those involved.