Designing a Martu-led evaluation

The focus of KJ’s work is to preserve Martu culture; build a viable, sustainable economy in Martu communities; and build realistic pathways for young Martu to a healthy and prosperous future.

Ultimately, to achieve this, KJ’s decision-making authority and power lies with Martu.

In 2020, KJ engaged Social Ventures Australia (SVA) to evaluate their impact on Martu. It was essential that the evaluation reflected the Martu voice and captured Martu’s genuine experiences and feelings about KJ. 

The SVA article reflects on and emphasises the importance of the process undertaken in an evaluation for and with Aboriginal communities.

The 10-year evaluation (between 2010 and 2020) found how you do it is as important as what you find out. Martu articulated 11 outcomes that were important to them and KJ’s contributions were measured against those outcomes.

Seventy-five Martu were consulted with during the evaluation. For Martu, the evaluation process did not end after the report was submitted but continued to evolve and reflect changing circumstances in town and what matters most to them at the time.

“The evaluation demonstrated a genuinely Indigenous-led approach that truly put the Martu voice at the centre.”

SVA’s long-working relationship with KJ and Martu meant there was already a familiarity and trust between the evaluation team and the community.

While the findings of the evaluation are important, so too is the process and methodology used. These demonstrate important lessons for the Martu community, evaluators and for Indigenous programs and policy makers.

KJ’s full evaluation report can be found here.

📸: two members of the Martu Leadership Program lead a consultation session with the community.