Provision of a research paper titled 'The Devolution Problem'

The purpose of the research paper is to assist public servants to understand the real vs perceived risks and barriers to enacting the requirement to change the way they conduct their business under the Closing the Gap (National Agreement 2020), Clause 18, as well as some other sectoral and Agency specific policies emphasizing the imperative to incorporate First Nations voices into government
policies and servicing. The paper will highlight some examples of both barriers to devolution, and operational solutions (successful policies or practices) that can empower public servants in all Australian jurisdictions to engage innovative solutions in pursuit of these new obligations. CDU will provide a research paper in collaboration with the ‘gratis services’ of Geoff Richardson PSM of First Nations Development Services. The research paper will consider: - what barriers inhibit genuine partnerships involving shared decision-making between First Nations Peoples and governments? - what barriers restrict the handover of responsibility for the design and delivery of services to First Nations Peoples organisations? - what risks are perceived by Public Servants to be pertinent in this new way of operating and how can they be mitigated? For example, barriers may include lack of awareness or understanding of the extent and implications of the agreed changes to work practices; hesitancy by public servants because they do not feel confident that they have permission; lack of capability or capacity; regulatory and oversight constraints; authorising environment; cultural factors; Ministerial expectations of servicing; institutional racism or bias.