Researchers:

ANU: Prof Nicholas Biddle,  A/Prof Naomi Priest & Lucy Ellen

Social Research Centre: Karen Kellard & Dr Catherine Waite

Context:

Evaluation of Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education is a major program developed by Reconciliation Australia and launched in 2015.

Narragunnawali is a word from the language of the Ngunnawal people, Traditional Owners of the land on which Reconciliation Australia’s Canberra office is located, meaning alive, wellbeing, coming together and peace.”

The program supports all schools and early learning services in Australia to develop environments that foster a higher level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions. Through the program and its free-to-access online platform, participants are assisted to find practical ways to introduce meaningful reconciliation initiatives in the classroom, around the school and with the community”

The program provides a framework for driving whole-scale change, with benefits for all students; all teaching and non-teaching staff; as well as for parents, families and the wider community. Narragunnawali aims to contribute to the five dimensions of reconciliation in Australia – race relations; equality and equity; unity; institutional integrity; and historical acceptance.

The Narragunnawali program comprises four key components:

• Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs)
• Curriculum Resources
• Professional Learning
• Narragunnawali Awards

General Outline of the Project:

Description and Methodology:

The Australian National University (ANU) in partnership with the Social Research Centre is in the process of the second Phase of conducting an evaluation of Narragunnawali. The first phase of the evaluation commenced in early 2015 and continued to 2017. The second phase will continue from 2018 to 2020. The evaluation involve the use of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including surveys, interviews at both individual and school level, and administrative data analysis.

The objectives of the evaluation are:

• Monitoring - To enable evidence-based modifications, enhancements or changes to be made to the program within and beyond the project plan; and
• Evaluation - To report successes and challenges to the program to stakeholders and funding partners

Download an overview of the evaluation here.

• Narragunnawali Research Report 1: Factors associated with developing a Reconciliation Action Plan - November 2015
• Narragunnawali Research Report 2: Reconciliation in the classroom, around the school or early learning service, and with the community - March 2016
• Narragunnawali Research Report 3: Preparing for data collection - June 2016
• Narragunnawali Research Report 4: The process of developing Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) - October 2016
• Narragunnawali Research Report 5: Preliminary data collection findings - December 2016
• Narragunnawali Research Report 6: Visions for Reconciliation - May 2017
• Narragunnawali Research Report 7: Engaging with Narragunnawali 2.0 - September 2017
• Narragunnawali Research Report 8: First phase evaluation summary report – December 2017

Evaluation Reports - Phase 2

• Narragunnawali Research Report 9: The Importance of Reconciliation in Education
• Narragunnawali Research Report 10: Revisiting Visions for Reconciliation - May 2019
• Narragunnawali Research Report 11: Hearing from Schools and Early Learning Services - August 2019
• Narragunnawali Research Report 12: Ongoing Engagement with Narragunnawali - May 2020
• Narragunnawali Research Report 13: Student, parent, carer, and community Engagement with Narragunnawali
• Narragunnawali Research Report 14: (W)RAPing up Phase 2

Evaluation Reports - Phase 3

• Narragunnawali evaluation and monitoring - Phase 3 framework
• Narragunnawali Research Report 15: The State of Reconciliation in Education, from safe to brave - June 2021
• Narragunnawali Research Report 16: Engaging in the broader policy discussion - October 2021
• Narragunnawali Research Report 17:Tracking engagement and views on reconciliation in education - May 2022
• Narragunnawali Research Report 18: Capturing the impact of Narragunnawali - December 2022
   

Further Information:

Please contact Nicholas Biddle via email or Ph: 61 466 841 595

Project Funding:

Reconciliation Australia