Tools to Support Culturally Safe Evaluation
These practical guides, tools and templates have been developed in support of a Lowitja Institute approach to the culturally safe evaluation of programs and policies that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The tools can be used to eliminate racism in evaluation and encourage self-reflection to ensure that evaluation practitioners continue their learning journey with each evaluation completed.
Who are they for?
The tools are for evaluators and commissioners who want to change their practices and ensure they are working in a more culturally safe manner.
What is the goal?
Lowitja Institute hopes that the tools will assist in achieving the following four goals, which are shared by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:
- All evaluation involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is culturally safe, as defined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- All evaluation involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is governed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- All evaluation involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is commissioned, led and/or undertaken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- All evaluation involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities is designed and facilitated with, or by, members of their local community.
How do they work?
There are four tools, each with a separate guidebook explaining what is in the tool, when it is most relevant to use the tool across the four main evaluation stages, and how to use it:
- Tool A. Addressing cultural safety throughout evaluation
- Tool B. Addressing racism within evaluation
- Tool C. Community-led co-design of evaluation
- Tool D. Critical reflection on evaluation
Each tool contains several components, including the guidebook, posters, checklists, audit and reflection templates.
The tools encourage self-reflection to ensure that evaluation practitioners continue their learning journey with each evaluation completed.
‘When the tools arrived at our office… we couldn’t wait to open them up – Lowitja has done such a beautiful job at these!! We are so excited to start using the tools, and the accompanying PDFs and videos.’
Non-Indigenous university educator
Options
Tool: All tools to support culturally safe evaluation
All four tools and components for culturally safe evaluation are contained in this pack.
Included
- Tool A. Addressing cultural safety throughout evaluation
- Tool B. Addressing racism within evaluation
- Tool C. Community-led co-design of evaluation
- Tool D. Critical reflection on evaluation
Tool: A - Addressing cultural safety throughout evaluation
Addressing cultural safety throughout evaluation. One of four tools for supporting culturally safe evaluation, so it is planned and implemented in a way that is safe, respectful and valuable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Included
- Guidebook
- ‘Elements of culturally safe evaluation’ large (A2 detailed) poster
- ‘Planning for cultural safety in evaluation’ A1 poster
- ‘Elements of culturally safe evaluation’ small (A4 summary) poster
- ‘Planning for cultural safety in evaluation’ quality assurance process (an A4 fillable pdf)
Tool: B - Addressing racism within evaluation
Addressing racism within evaluation. One of four tools for supporting culturally safe evaluation, so it is planned and implemented in a way that is safe, respectful and valuable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Included
- Guidebook
- ‘Contributors to racism’ cards
- A4 group activity instructions
- A4 individual activity instructions
- A4 pdf template available in both a printable and fillable format for documenting outcomes from group or individual activities
Tool: C - Community-led co-design of evaluation
Community-led co-design of evaluation. One of four tools for supporting culturally safe evaluation, so it is planned and implemented in a way that is safe, respectful and valuable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Included
- Guidebook
- ‘Co-designing evaluation’ large (A2) poster template
- ‘Blue knowledge pool’ and ‘Green knowledge pool’ (A3) poster templates
- ‘Shared knowledge pool’ (extended A3) poster template
- ‘Co-designing evaluation’ small (A4) poster template
Tool: D - Critical reflection on evaluation
Critical reflection on evaluation. One of four tools for supporting culturally safe evaluation, so it is planned and implemented in a way that is safe, respectful and valuable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Included
- Guidebook with the set of matched critical reflection questions included for users to select and use in their own documents, as it is designed to be used flexibly and include only those questions that are relevant
