Custodial health reform is as much about deciding what counts as success, and how to measure it, as it is about designing programs. Counting incidents, disciplinary actions, or program completions gives only part of the story. It doesn’t show whether Aboriginal people in custody feel culturally safe, maintain family connection, or return to community with stronger chances of reintegration.
Read MoreDesigning health care in prisons is never straightforward. Services have to meet the needs of individuals while dealing with the dynamics of the whole prison community. Mainstream providers tend to fall back on risk management and control, which leaves little room for new thinking. Indigenous businesses approach it differently. They bring cultural authority, lived experience, and holistic perspectives that open up space for new models of care.
Read MorePrisons are some of the most dehumanising environments we have. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, time inside adds another layer to historical trauma, disconnection from Country, and systemic exclusion. Health services in custody have usually been about compliance, containment, or short-term treatment, not about social and emotional wellbeing.
Read MorePrisons strip life back to routines and control. For Aboriginal people, that comes on top of disconnection from culture, family, and Country. In that kind of environment, reform doesn’t stick unless there’s a base of common ground to work from.
Indigenous businesses are in a unique spot to create that base. They carry cultural authority, they’re trusted in communities, and they can bridge the gap between institutions and Aboriginal voices.
Read MorePrisons operate as systems of control, imposing routines, schedules, and compliance that quickly strip away individuality and humanity. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, incarceration not only reflects individual circumstances but also embodies the historical burden of systemic disadvantage spanning generations. The loss of cultural identity within these systems exacerbates this harm.
Read MoreIndigenous businesses design custodial health models that are culturally grounded and credible, embedding cultural authority that enables positive contagion and drives systemic reform.
Reforming custodial health means rethinking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing in prisons. Indigenous businesses that work across health, justice and education, bring cultural authority and lived experience that mainstream providers cannot replicate.
Read MoreDuring a recent review of the Koori Maternity Services (KMS) Guidelines, I posed the question: “How do the KMS Guidelines align with broader maternity care standards?”
There was a pause. Then one KMS midwife responded, “What if we turn that around and ask: how do broader maternity standards align with Aboriginal ways of doing things?”
It was a quiet correction, but a sharp one. My question carried an unexamined assumption: that Western systems define the benchmark, and everything else is measured in relation to that. That moment made something clearer for me: if you assume your position is the default you’re performing authority, not practising cultural humility.
Read MoreAt Karabena Consulting, we often hear: “Your prices are…high.”
Our answer is: yes, resoundingly so.
Our work delivers measurable social and economic return on investment (ROI). Not just in outputs, but in real, lasting change. We centre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems, drive policy reform, and build community capacity. This creates a ripple effect of impact that extends far beyond the life of a project.
Read MoreWe’ve all done it, clicked through a cultural awareness module on autopilot at double speed, skimmed a few facts, maybe even jumped straight to the quiz. Job done, right? You’re now culturally aware
Read MoreRoad safety is a critical issue for all communities, yet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth face unique systemic and intergenerational barriers that influence their approach to driving. Too often, risk-taking in driving is viewed as a deficit, rather than a natural developmental process that can be channelled into structured, positive pathways for skill development.
Read MorePeer researchers shift the power dynamics in research, ensuring that those most affected by the outcomes have a direct voice in shaping them. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it’s a way of reclaiming narratives and embedding cultural values into methodologies. It methodology with self-determination at its heart.
Read MoreKarabena emphasises conducting culturally safe and ethical research that prioritises the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. By blending traditional research methodologies with narrative-driven insights, the organisation aims to humanise evaluations and foster meaningful, human-centred decision-making.
Read MoreFor Senior Consultant Associate Sharon Pittaway, working on the Link-Up Victoria project was an incredibly moving and enlightening experience. The program’s dedication to supporting members of the Stolen Generations as they reconnect with family, country, and culture brought into sharp focus the deep need for truth-telling and healing within Australia.
Read MoreCo-design is a collaborative process is transforming the way organisations, governments, and communities work together to create solutions that truly resonate with those they aim to serve. At Karabena Consulting, we believe co-design is more than just a buzzword—it’s a game-changer that brings together diverse voices to create impact by design.
Read MoreAustralia is home to so many different people and cultures, making inclusion and diversity so important on so many levels. Junior Consultant Associate Derek reflects on diversity and inclusion, and how his previous experience has prepared him for working at Karabena Consulting on reviewing the Victorian Disability Worker Commission’s policies and developing cultural awareness training modules
Read More"When I was first pregnant, my mother told me not to talk about my mental health with anyone." This powerful quote set the tone for Senior Consultant, Sharon Pittaway's presentation to the Victorian Branch of PANDA last week. As we mark Perinatal Mental Health Week (Nov 17-23), it’s timely to reflect on key findings from our consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents on their experiences with perinatal mental health screening.
Read MoreExplore the significance of Sorry Day in acknowledging and addressing past injustices towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. At Karabena Consulting, we have been actively working towards healing through several projects working directly with Stolen Generations survivors and their families. Currently, we are working with Link-Up Victoria and VACCA to undertake consultations into the needs and aspirations of Stolen Generations survivors and their families living in Victoria and Tasmania.
Read MoreRecently Karabena participated in an incredible launch for the Wildlife Disease Association Conference 2024 on Wiradjuri Country in NSW. 'RESPECT', was a unique launch event which celebrated and centred Wiradjuri First Nations culture, and reflected on what those working in conservation, One Health and the environment might learn from the Wiradjuri ways of yindyamarra and gulbali ngurambang.
Read MoreWith gratitude and mutual admiration, the partnership between Karabena Consulting and St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) draws to a close, leaving behind a trail of accomplishments and shared experiences.
Read MoreAs Indigenous Business Month has come to a close, it's time to reflect on the achievements and initiatives that have taken place at Karabena Consulting throughout this important month.
Read More
