Practitioner learnings in creating a culturally safe evaluation and research space
Channel: Australian Evaluation Society
Date: 2021-09-13

Presented by Doyen Radcliffe, Donna-Maree Stephens and Sharon Babyack, Community First Development

Community First Development is a First Nations’ community development and research organisation. We recently completed an Action Research Project in partnership with 11 strong First Nations’ communities. Our recently released Final Report reflects the collective voice and experiences of the many hundreds of First Nations’ communities we have worked with over the past 20 years.

In this seminar, the three presenters discuss Community First Development’s “fail forward” approach to undertaking research and evaluation with First Nations communities. Building on the Final Report, they will share their learnings around where things didn’t go as planned, and how they then adapted by taking on board feedback from communities and staff. Some of the key findings, as well as the practices in the research, provide insights into creating a culturally safe space in evaluation and research.

This seminar offers valuable insights into practical approaches when working with First Nations’ communities and will discuss:
• Some of the pitfalls of a written approach to data collection.
• Creation of a ‘Seed to Tree’ scale that was then adapted for multiple monitoring and evaluation contexts.
• The power of yarning and the limitations of a semi-structured interview approach.
• A practical approach to co-authoring with communities.
• Where to from here?

Doyen Radcliffe is a Yamatji Naaguja man and is Community First Development’s Regional Manager – Western Region. He has been instrumental in the design of Community First Development theories of change, M,E&L frameworks and participatory approaches and tools. Doyen is also a Board member of the Australian Evaluation Society.
Donna-Maree Stephens is an Iwaidja woman of the Muran clan, northwest Arnhemland with 26 years’ experience in education and research in the Northern Territory; focused on community engagement, educational and workforce outcomes for First Nations’ people. Donna is Community First Development’s inaugural First Nations’ Fellow for Research and Evaluation. She is currently SEWB Workforce Development and Support Unit Coordinator at the Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance of the NT (AMSANT).

Sharon Babyack is Community First Development’s General Manager Impact and Strategy. Sharon brings close to 20 years’ experience working for government, and not-for-profit organisations. She provides strategic direction and leadership on monitoring, evaluation and research for Community First Development. She has played a strong leadership role in the development and roll-out of Community First Development’s M,E&L approach and database.