CHRISTIE, Michael; GREATOREX, John

Yolngu life in the northem territory of Australia : the significance of community and social capital - Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, June 2004

The notion of social capital has had wide currency in mainstream social policy debate in recent years, with coomonly used definitions emphasising three factors: norms, networks and trust. Yolngu Aboriginal people have their own perspectives on norms, networks and trust relationships. This article uses concepts from Yolngu philosophy to explore these perspectives in three contexts: at the former mission settlements, at homeland centres, and among "long-grassers" in Darwin. The persistence of the components of social capital at different levels in particular contexts should be seen by governmnent policy makers as an opportunity to engage in a social development dialogue with Yolngu, aimed at identifying the specific contexts in wich Yolngu social capital can be maximised.