ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses research with and about a multisector community collaboration, offering it as both a community development strategy and viable policy approach to enhance Aboriginal child welfare and reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children and families in statutory child protection. It highlights the relevance of community development to the welfare of Aboriginal children and families. The chapter deals with dialogue regarding the promotion of social change at the community level as one element in the full spectrum of approaches to address child and family wellbeing. It discusses research conducted between 2008 and 2012, examining the promotion of social change by a multisector collaboration aimed at enhancing Aboriginal wellbeing. The chapter describes three aspects of the findings from this research: first, Aboriginal Interagency Committee (AIC) membership; second, the nature of the AIC's promotion of social change; and third, factors identified as critical to enabling and sustaining the AIC.
