The Space in Between Two Worlds: How First Nations Principles Change Organisational Culture

<p>This thesis investigates Schultz (2019)’s Principles of Lore as an organisational culture change intervention. Organisational interventions to improve wellbeing in the workplace have predominantly drawn on Western knowledge as the foundation and have not considered other knowledges, such as First Nations knowledges. A case study of a non-Indigenous Australian mental health organisation, currently implementing the Principles, was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the Principles of Lore to mitigate psychosocial hazards. A qualitative methodology incorporating elements of Autoethnography, Grounded Theory, Standpoint Theory, Critical Organisation Theory, and Critical Race Theory were used to form a Bricolage for this study titled Critical Organisational Bricolage. Using the Critical Organisational Bricolage, 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff members of the mental health organisation from across the organisational hierarchy, and organisational departments alongside reflective journaling. “Two-eyed Seeing” utilising the strengths of both First Nations and Western knowledge systems was used to analyse the data to produce the case study. The results of this study found that from a Western knowledge system, the application of the Principles had instilled the importance of First Nations affairs as a new underlying assumption/core belief in the organisation. From a First Nations knowledge system, the application of the Principles have embedded the importance of First Nations affairs as part of the organisational identity. The application of the Principles had contributed to positive wellbeing and healing amongst many employees. This study highlights the universal benefits of First Nations knowledge in non-Indigenous organisational contexts and the majority population, indicating what works for First Nations Peoples will work for everyone.</p>