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The Aboriginal Youth Cautioning Program (AYCP) was developed in collaboration with Aboriginal communities and in accordance with principles of Aboriginal self-determination outlined within the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement Phase 4 (AJA4). The aim of the AYCP is to increase and enhance the use of police cautioning through a community-led model, based on principles of early intervention, harm reduction and community involvement, to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal young people in the criminal justice system. Initially established as a pilot program, the AYCP has now expanded into an ongoing State-wide program, operating for over four years.
August 2024 – March 2025
Karabena Consulting was engaged by the DTP to deliver a two-stage project focused on improving road safety outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.
The first stage (September 2023 – January 2024) involved a comprehensive review of literature, examining evidence-based strategies and actions to enhance road safety for First Nations communities in Victoria.
September 2023 – January 2025
As two stages of OCHRE evaluation demonstrate, there were many achievements over 2013- 2023 including ARA being established over significant parts (but not all) of NSW. But a statewide healing program did not progress beyond the consultation stage. There was also slow progress in transferring decision-making powers to Aboriginal communities. From 2018-2019 onwards, OCHRE was increasingly overshadowed by the negotiation and roll out of the Closing the Gap program in NSW.
Karabena Consulting (Karabena) was engaged by the Department of Health (DH) to conduct a lapsing program evaluation of the Strong Brother Strong Sister (SBSS) suicide prevention and social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) program.
This evaluation sought to assess the program’s implementation, outcomes, and impact, and by analysing this data determine its overall effectiveness, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Further, Karabena examined the potential risk, to both individuals and the community, if program funding is not renewed
August 2024 – December 2024
In 2023, the Victorian Government committed to integrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge in antenatal, Maternal and Child Health (MCH), and early parenting services to strengthen the early years health sector for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in Victoria from preconception to school age.
August 2023 – August 2024
The Better Futures and Home Stretch Programs, an initiative of DFFH, aim to provide structure, guidance, and support to young people transitioning from care services to adulthood.
March 2024 – November 2024
Karabena Consulting facilitated a workshop for the Community Relations and Heritage Division of the DPC on 16 October 2024. The workshop focused on DISC profiles, internal division relationships, and directional communication strategies. The goal was to improve communication among team members, enhancing both personal understanding and the overall efficiency of the division.
Karabena Consulting worked with VAHS to design and implement a comprehensive strategy to enhance workplace safety, health, and inclusion for Aboriginal staff. The project was part of VAHS's broader efforts to promote respectful environments for their staff in Victoria and address cultural safety.
The project provided VAHS with practical tools and strategies to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety (OHS) standards and to promote a safer, more inclusive environment for employees.
May 2024 – October 2024
In collaboration with Karen Milward Consulting Services, Karabena Consulting worked on developing the Cultural Capability Framework Implementation Action Plan (Action Plan) and the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for DEECA.
September 2024 – October 2024
Karabena Consulting (Karabena) was engaged by the Department of Health (DH) to conduct a lapsing program evaluation of the Strong Brother Strong Sister (SBSS) suicide prevention and social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) program.
This evaluation sought to assess the program’s implementation, outcomes, and impact, and by analysing this data determine its overall effectiveness, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Further, Karabena examined the potential risk, to both individuals and the community, if program funding is not renewed
March 2024 – October 2024
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (2021) recommended a review of approaches to perinatal mental health screening to address inclusivity, cultural appropriateness and the therapeutic context of screening (recommendation 18.2).
A subsequent independent review of perinatal mental health screening in Victoria (2023) delivered ten recommendations in response to the findings of the Royal Commission, including a recommendation for the development of the Victorian perinatal mental health screening guidelines (‘the guidelines’), informed by co-design approaches with Aboriginal people.
May 2024 - October 2024
Karabena Consulting worked with Link-Up Victoria to identify the needs and aspirations of members of the Stolen Generations and their families. The project was part of Link-Up Victoria’s broader efforts to support cultural reconnection, healing, and intergenerational empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.
March 2024 – September 2024
The Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) engaged Karabena Consulting to assess how its work in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination can be strengthened through enhanced governance and power-sharing with First Nations partners.
April 2024 - September 2024
Karabena was engaged by WMHSP to help understand the enablers and barriers to cultural safety and access in Emergency Departments (ED) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and their families.
To achieve this, Karabena undertook site visits to the EDs at both RMH and RCH, semi-structured discussions with staff at RMH’s First Nations Health Unit and RCH’s Wadja Aboriginal Family Place, and consultations with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community members.
March 2024 – September 2024
The Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (the Act) provides a safe legal framework for eligible people who are suffering and dying to choose the manner and timing of their death.
Karabena Consulting was engaged by CERE to evaluate the first five years of the Act. Focusing on experiences with death, dying and voluntary assisted dying (VAD) accessibility, key consultation questions addressed how VAD systems meet First Nations peoples’ needs, barriers to compliance, and the safety and compassion of VAD processes. The goal of this project was to review how the Act is operating for First Nations communities.
April – June 2024
The purpose of this project was to present a summary of key themes and proposed changes for expert consideration for the refresh of the Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer, as informed by a rapid review of published evidence and stakeholder consultation activities.
Project Timeline: October 2023 – June 2024
Karabena Consulting was engaged by Eastern Health to create a holistic cultural awareness and comprehension program. This program aims to embed people’s experiences of reconciliation to further strengthen Eastern Health’s capacity to develop and deliver culturally sensitive services. Two half-day sessions were delivered at Eastern Health offices, incorporating Indigenous methodologies and practices to be applied in their management styles and decision-making strategies.
Project Timeline: April – June 2024
Karabena Consulting was engaged by AIDA to undertake an external evaluation of the STSP. This project served as the first independent evaluation of the STSP, a key milestone in examining the program’s efficacy and impact, and to explore areas to strengthen its strategic development.
Project Timeline: December 2023 – June 2024
The Traditional Owner Rights and Land Justice Branch (TORLJ) conducted a planning day to map out key priorities for 2024, integrate the First Peoples - State Relations (FPSR) Guiding Principles into their work, and begin a comprehensive planning process.
Project Timeline: February – March 2024
Karabena Consulting was engaged by DJSIR to undertake Statewide consultations with Tourism Operators, Community people and Traditional Owner organisations on key inclusions and aspirations that regions had to create a viable First Peoples visitor economy.
Project Timeline: August 2023 – June 2024
Karabena Consulting was engaged to implement our 'Living Libraries' cultural awareness and training program. This comprehensive initiative, developed by KCT and implemented in partnership with Karen Milward Consulting Services, included two half-day training sessions followed by visits to community agencies, designed to contextualise the learnings through real-life experiences. Each community organisation received a payment for hosting Australian Unity staff during these visits.
Project Timeline: May – June 2024
The National Redress Scheme Survivor Roundtable provides survivors of institutional child sexual abuse and their advocates a platform to give feedback on the Scheme and receive updates on its performance. The Second Year Review highlighted the need for formal inclusion of survivors in the governance structure.
Project Timeline: Ongoing, with the most recent roundtable held in Perth on 6 March 2024.
Karabena Consulting and Karen Milward Consulting were engaged to undertake the evaluation of the first Dhelk Dja 3-Year Action Plan (2019–2022).
Project Timeline: June 2023 – April 2024
This project aimed to develop a coherent and consistent framework for measuring progress in achieving the Priority Reforms outlined in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Led by an Expert Governing Committee of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts, the project involved comprehensive consultations, data analysis, and the formulation of recommendations for indicators, measures and data sources.
Project Timeline: June 2023 – April 2024
Karabena Consulting partnered with Swinburne University's Moondani Toombadool Centre (MTC) to develop a Strategic Plan for their Indigenous Innovation Hub. This plan is aimed at nurturing Indigenous entrepreneurship, aligning with the cultural values and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Project Timeline: September 2023 – January 2024
The Australian Government established Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to increase the efficiency of medical services, reduce fragmentation of care and improve health outcomes for everyone, especially the most vulnerable. The Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) is one such example of these networks.
Project Timeline: July 2023 – December 2023
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) has contracted Karabena Consulting to undertake a multi-year cultural safety audit to explore the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and staff regarding cultural safety issues; and improve the cultural safety of the hospital’s services.
Project Timeline: July 2021 – August 2023
Karabena Consulting was engaged by VACCHO to independently measure the ‘health’ of their partnerships with four Victorian cancer organisations. This involved disseminating a Partnership Health Check survey, conducting team interviews, and facilitating a reflection workshop with VACCHO and its participating partners.
Project Timeline: August 2023 – October 2023
Karabena Consulting was contracted to facilitate the meeting of all members of Victoria’s Closing the Gap Partnership Forum, now named Ngaweeyan Maar-oo, to establish the self-determining priorities and driving implementation action on closing the gap.
Project Timeline: August 2023
The KWT Fund, recognising the need to centre Indigenous perspectives in its philanthropic efforts, sought to create a grant making impact assessment tool that respects and incorporates these principles.
Project Timeline: August 2022 – August 2023