Research and Evaluation
What We Do
Culturally-responsive research and evaluation services
We specialise in innovative methodologies that combine Indigenous and Western theories, and frameworks to provide insights and solutions for policy, programs and projects. Delivering Culturally-responsive research and evaluation services that lead to positive outcomes for our clients, communities and the wider population.
Our senior and highly experienced consultants specialise in applying a Culturally safe, strength-based approach that is agile, tailored and quality driven in:
Case Studies
Real Stories, Real Impact: Our Work in Action
Closing the Gap Grants Evaluation and Capacity Building
Curijo was engaged by Aboriginal Affairs NSW to carry out an Evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of the NSW Closing the Gap Grants Program including design and development of capacity building activities for Grant applicants and recipients. The key outcome of the engagement was to measure the program’s effectiveness, capture its impact on ACCOs and businesses, and build recipients’ capacity to showcase their outcomes and community contributions, all through co-design methods.
Our Approach
Our approach involved collaborating with Aboriginal Affairs NSW and grant recipients to co-design a comprehensive evaluation plan that provided an independent assessment of the NSW Closing the Gap Grants Program. Through this process, we measured grant program effectiveness and impact, built recipients’ capacity in monitoring and evaluation, and developed an evidence base of achievements to inform government decision-making on capacity strengthening for ACCOs and Aboriginal businesses. This process was underpinned by ethical practice, Cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed care.
Our Result
Feedback received from Aboriginal Affairs NSW was overwhelming positive in how Curijo worked in collaboration, was able to adjust and pivot when needed, creating an evaluation report to guide future grants along with fit for purpose capacity building resources that meet the target audience needs.
Services Our Way Evaluation
Curijo was engaged to work in collaboration with the Centre for Evidence and Implementation to deliver the Services Our Way Evaluation for NSW Aboriginal Housing Office including a mix-method approach grounded in principles of Cultural Safety, trauma-recovery and implementation science.
Our Approach
Our approach to the Services Our Way Evaluation involved working via relationship-based practice to commence the project, develop a project, evaluation and stakeholder engagement plan to co-creation, conduct a desktop review, ethics approval, engage with stakeholders including staff and clients, data collection through focus groups via yarning circles, data analysis both qualitative and quantitative and reporting.
Our Result
This evaluation approach allowed a truthful and meaningful evaluation focusing on process, program as well as economic outcomes. The feedback received was positive as the evaluation was crucial to informing the Business Case for the extension of the SOW program post 2023.
Palliative and End of Life Care for Aboriginal Communities System Review and Re-alignment Project
Curijo was engaged to review the Aboriginal End of Life / Palliative Care Services in South-East New South Wales. The purpose of the review was to identify strengths and opportunities of existing services and to identify where improvements can be made to improve experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal consumers of end of life / palliative care services and their families.
Our Approach
Our approach aimed to centre the voices of Aboriginal people and their families as consumers who had accessed palliative and end of life care services to inform localised solutions through collaboration between key stakeholders. We conducted a desktop review, interviews with consumers and their families and stakeholders which were analysed and fed into a series of Working Group roundtables that were represented by stakeholders using a trauma-informed approach.
Our Result
This approach allowed Curijo to identify a number of strengths and opportunities that can be built upon to improve experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal consumers of end of life and palliative care. Curijo was able to create significant opportunities through the bringing together of highly committed and experienced Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders who constitute the Working Group and who can play a role in the ongoing improvement of these services.
Functional Family Therapy (FFT) – Casework Evaluation
Curijo was engaged to work in collaboration with the Youth Coalition of conduct and NAPS for an evaluation of the OzChild and Gugan Gulwan partnership on the FFT-casework program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families to discover and grow their own strengths and stay living together. The evaluation assessed the extent to which the FFT-CW ACT program is delivered as intended, identify ‘lessons learnt’ to inform the further development or refinement of the model and program; and assess the extent to which the FFT-CW ACT program is achieving its intended short and medium-term outcomes.
Our Approach
Our approach to the collaboration for the evaluation, Curijo provided input and support across the entire project on Cultural safety. Curijo was a key part including Chair of the Evaluation Steering Committee, a key party to the mix-method data collection and analysis including quantitative and qualitative. We conducted Culturally safe interviews with participants and key stakeholders to ensure voices were heard to inform the evaluation which were underpinned by trauma-informed care practices.
Our Result
This approach allowed a truthful and meaningful evaluation outcome to support further implementation of the project to support families. Feedback received was positive from OzChild, Gugan Gulwan, stakeholders and families.
