Improving the Feedback of Housing Information to Indigenous Communities

Abstract

The standard and functionality of housing are key environmental determinants of health
in Indigenous community settings. This paper reports on a study which examined the
perceptions of Indigenous Community Housing Organisation (ICHO) staff on feedback
they received from the Northern Territory Indigenous Community Housing Survey
(ICHS). Data from this study was generated through telephone interviews with 22 staff
working within ICHOs in the Northern Territory (NT) in December 2004. A. semistructured,
open-ended questionnaire was used to elicit perceptions of the process,
content and format of the feedback report and subsequent actions taken. The results
showed that multiple approaches to report dissemination are necessary in order to
respond to the varied capacity of ICHOs, and a great deal can be gained from
government stakeholders, such as environmental health officers, communicating the key
issues within the report directly to housing managers. The study identified potential
improvements to the format of the report and a range of items that participants felt
should be removed or included in future housing survey instruments and reports.
Feedback from the housing survey enabled staff within ICHOs to organise and carry out
urgent repairs and provided an evidence base when applying for funding. The paper
concludes with the proposition that feedback could be improved by communicating
information in person and using a continuous quality improvement process as a basis for
planning and capacity building within ICHOs.

Date of Award	2005
Original language	English
Supervisor	R Bailey (Supervisor) & Peter Stephenson (Supervisor)