Creating Impact With First Nations Knowledge And Evidence

Karabena Consulting (Karabena) was engaged by Western Health (WH) in June 2025 to review the impact of the Western Health Aboriginal Health Cultural Safety Plan 2022-2025 and develop recommendations for the development of an updated 2026-2030 Cultural Safety Plan.

June 2025 – June 2026

Karabena Consulting was engaged by Public Skills Australia (PSA) to manage and deliver the First Nations Workforce Participation Research. The project examined First Nations employment, qualifications and workforce pathways across PSA's six industry-sectors: Fire and Emergency Services, Police, Defence, Correctional Services, Local Government, and Federal and State/Territory Government, collectively referred to as the Public Safety and Government industry-sectors.

April 2026 – June 2026

Karabena Consulting worked with Vicsport to support Victorian sport organisations receiving Sport and Recreation Victoria funding to strengthen their First Nations commitments. By 2027, medium and large sports were expected to have a Reconciliation Action Plan, while smaller sports were expected to have a First Nations Policy or commitment statement.

July 2025 – June 2027

Karabena Consulting and First 1000 Days Australia worked with Danila Dilba Health Service (DDHS) to develop Growing Future Elders: Child and Family Model of Care. The model guides the redesign of child and family services across DDHS and brings existing services into a clearer life-course pathway.

February 2026 – May 2026

Karabena Consulting was engaged by the Victorian Department of Education to develop an interim Koorie Communications and Engagement Strategy. Families of Koorie children make decisions about early childhood education within the realities of culture, kinship, work, transport, health, service access and trust, and the Department needed a stronger evidence base for how its communication about kindergarten participation, reforms and early childhood workforce pathways is heard, carried, trusted or lost before it reaches families.

November 2025 – May 2026

Having a Driver Licence is a critical enabler of social and economic participation, particularly for young people in areas with limited alternative transport options such as outer metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote locations. First Peoples youth, however, often experience barriers to obtaining their Learner Permit, including a lack of culturally appropriate learning resources, limited access to technology required to engage with resources, and difficulty accessing local support services.

November 2025 – April 2026