Workshop: Learning to apply the AES First Nations Cultural Safety Framework

Date and time: Monday 25 March 2024, 10.00am to 1.00pm AEDT (registration from 9.45am). Half day workshop - 1 session

Venue: Via Zoom. Details will be emailed to registrants just prior to the workshop start time

Facilitators: Sharon Gollan and Kathleen Stacey

Register online by: Friday 22 March 2024, unless sold out prior. Spaces limited to 25 participants

Fees (GST inclusive): Members $185.00, AES Organisational member staff $310.00, Non-members $350.00, Student member $110.00*, Student non-member $160.00*  * Students must send proof of their full-time student status to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Workshop Overview

In September 2021, the AES launched the AES First Nations Cultural Safety Framework, developed over a 15-month period via a co-design process with the AES Indigenous Culture and Diversity Committee and representatives from the other main AES Committees.

The Foundation Workshop on learning to apply the Framework has been developed by Sharon Gollan and Kathleen Stacey. Workshop 2 on applying the Framework in practice has been developed by Sharon Gollan and Kathleen Stacey, together with Doyen Radcliffe and Ginibi Robinson. 

The purpose of this workshop is to provide participants with guidance and support in beginning to apply the AES First Nations Cultural Safety Framework to their evaluation context. Participants are highly encouraged to have a specific evaluation project in mind, in which First Nations people were or are strongly involved, that they are willing to reflect on during workshop activities, while noting they must consider any confidentiality requirements

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Strengthen their understanding of how principles for culturally safe evaluation can be applied in their evaluation context.

• Develop skills in critical self-reflection in working towards culturally safe evaluation.

• Strengthen their understanding of what it means to be an ally for culturally safe evaluation.

Workshop Content

The AES Cultural Safety Framework articulates principles for culturally safe evaluation, and describe how critical self-reflection in relation to evaluators, evaluation roles and responsibilities and evaluation practices can contribute to culturally safe evaluation. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on and discuss how they consider and apply the principles within their evaluation work. They will consider what cultural accountability means in evaluation, identify how they can take up opportunities and gain practice at being an ally.

In learning to apply the Framework, the workshop has a priority focus on engaging in critical self-reflection using the principles and practices described in the Framework, which is a vital skill for facilitating culturally safe evaluation in a diverse range of settings, organisations and/or communities. It does not focus on specific techniques or methods. 

This session is not a cultural safety training workshop; it supports you to develop understandings and skills that can lead to the evaluation being a culturally safe experience for First Nations colleagues and evaluation participants. Cultural safety training, usually a two-day workshop, is an extremely valuable personal and professional development experience to undertake either before or after this workshop, as it can help you understand and learn how to strive towards creating cultural safety in any area of your work or personal life.

In learning to apply the Framework, the workshop has a priority focus on engaging in critical self-reflection using the principles and practices described in the Framework, which is a vital skill for facilitating culturally safe evaluation in a diverse range of settings, organisations and/or communities. It does not focus on specific techniques or methods. 

Online teaching and learning strategies

There will be a balanced combination of:

• facilitator PPt presentation

• individual reflective activities with feedback of key learnings

• small group reflective activities with summary feedback to the larger group

• scenario-based small group discussions with structured feedback to the larger group.

PL competencies

This workshop aligns with competencies in the AES Evaluator’s Professional Learning Competency Framework. The identified domains are:

• Domain 1: Evaluative attitude and professional practice

• Domain 3: Attention to stakeholders, culture and context,

• Domain 6: Interpersonal skills

• Domain 7: Evaluation activities.

Who should attend?

People involved with evaluation in a variety of roles, including commissioners, evaluators, evaluation educators, and managers/staff whose policy, program or project is being evaluated. The workshop is suitable for all levels of evaluation experience.

Workshop start times

• VIC, NSW, ACT, TAS: 10.00am

• QLD: 9.00am

• SA: 9.30am

• NT: 8.30am

• WA: 7.00am

• New Zealand: 12.00pm

For other time zones please go to https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

About the facilitators

Sharon Gollan, Sharon Gollan & Associates

Sharon Gollan has strong affinity with and is an active community member of the Ngarrindjeri group in South Australia. She has over 35 years of experience in the public sector in a range of community services and management positions primarily focused on creating better services for Aboriginal peoples, followed by eight years in academic teaching and research before focusing all her time on running her training and consultancy business, as well as contributing to better life outcomes for Aboriginal peoples through Boards, State Committees and Working Groups.

Sharon Gollan has invited beyond... to work with her since 1999 in developing and delivering training programs focused on cultural respect and safety as part of organisational change projects and reconciliation action plans (RAPs). They also work together on a regular basis to develop and/or evaluate health, education, family and community service programs at state and national levels.

Kathleen Stacey, beyond...(Kathleen Stacey & Associates) Pty Ltd

Kathleen Stacey is the Managing Director and Principal Consultant at beyond... She spent her formative working years within the public sector and academia, before establishing and expanding beyond... into its current form. The company conducts consultancy, evaluation, research and training work in human services fields, with a specialist focus in health, education, youth, early childhood, mental health, and family and community support services. It has developed a strong reputation for culturally respectful work in Aboriginal programs and organisations and has worked consistently and collegially with Aboriginal consultants across a range of projects since beyond…’s inception in 2000. beyond...specialises in:

• program design, planning, implementation and evaluation

• organisational and service reviews

• strategic and business planning

• research

• facilitation

• workforce and curriculum development, including development and delivery of training.

For more information about the work of this partnership, please contact both Kathleen Stacey on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  and Sharon Gollan on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.