1. Presentation to Local Government Researchers Forum Adelaide 7 June 2013 Adele Kenneally

2. Who? Senior Manager in Large rural LGA in Victoria Environment: low staff morale & poor performance What? Research Project – PhD studies 2007 Improvement in perception by community Working to address health & Disadvantage

3. Undertaken by researchers in their own organisations Cycles of investigation, action, & reflection Concerned with changing organisation Ethnographic dimension

4. Reflects experience of org members Deeper aspects of change uncovered Access / easy passage Preunderstanding of org dynamics But Linear structure of PhD Insider / outsider dichotomy Political & personal dimensions Tension closeness / distance

5. Managing dual roles (practitioner / researcher) Nature & level of informed consent Ownership of data Nature of relationship (researcher / participant) Anonymity & confidentiality Political consequences

6. gather intelligence Plan Act Observe Reflect Gather intelligence Interruption Gather intelligence (again) Plan Resume Recommence action change direction Undo action Reflect Observ e Observe again Act

7. Selected strands of related activities and events: A – research process B- lens of disadvantage C- community dimension D – responsiveness & work practices E – personal dimension – female / rural

8. Managing tensions is exhausting Carefully consider assumptions at outset Nature of IAR – challenging /rewarding Writing / interpretation – time consuming Time out – objectivity / perspective

9. Self development Self knowledge Skills and understanding New information on lived experience Benefits to community