Working in Western Sydney for nearly a decade has given me so much. So many friends with diverse backgrounds and stories that are important to hear and learn from. For us who are working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the power of listening to stories is well understood and respected.
Many friends whose ancestry comes from many different parts of the globe share stories about living in countries with health systems vastly different from Australia. For some, trust is an issue. Trust in government can be problematic, based on past experiences.
In extreme circumstances, when people are forced to migrate to escape danger, refugee experiences can be traumatic.
Partnerships start with relationships, and building relationships into partnerships takes time and trust. We share the big-picture goal and recognise that there are smaller objectives that each in the relationship values. Good partnership-building requires that - where possible - we accommodate the other's objectives along the way.
Ultimately, building trust is about earning trust. How we behave, how we respond, how we deliver, doing - not just saying that we will do something - is central.
