Aboriginal Associates
ARTD Staff recognise the diversity of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge their unceded sovereignty and continued custodianship of the lands in which we conduct our business and the waterways that supports life. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.
Our head office sits on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, in the heart of today’s Sydney CBD. We also have offices and staff located on the land of the Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) peoples of the Kulin Nation in modern Melbourne and on Turrbal land in modern Brisbane.
We are committed to giving voice to Aboriginal people, families and communities in research and evaluation. By building external relationships with Aboriginal associates, ARTD is able to partner and utilise these knowledge holders and their abilities to communicate with communities to ensure the voices of Aboriginal people and communities are heard in our projects. These partnerships have also been an opportunity for ARTD to support Aboriginal owned small businesses and independent consultants.
Dr Kevin Dolman, Senior Aboriginal Associate
Kevin is an Eastern Arrernte man and Principal of Indigenous Evaluation Services, a sole trading consultancy specialising in Indigenous policy, performance monitoring and evaluation. He has a special interest in assisting organisations to deliver transitionary and more sustainable economic, social and cultural impacts for Indigenous Australians. His PhD involved a case study of the COAG Trials Project 2002-07, which assessed the quality of implementation of the government-community partnerships and whole-of-government coordination.
Kevin’s work with ARTD has included developing evaluation plans for comprehensive Indigenous family support services and a national remote school attendance program, as well as an expert adviser on cultural and ethical evaluation design. For the past decade, he has been building a knowledge-base of how trauma-based approaches have emerged as an integral aspect of effective Indigenous affairs policy and practice. He is a member of the Australian Evaluation Society Indigenous Culture and Diversity Committee, an assessor for the annual AES Indigenous Evaluation Award, a lawyer for the WA Aboriginal Health Ethics Research Committee, and a director of Dream-a-Dream Foundation. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous Australian families.
Qualifications: Doctor of Philosophy, Charles Darwin University (2018), Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Commerce, UNSW (1999)
Carol Vale, Senior Aboriginal Associate
Carol Vale is a Dunghutti woman from NSW. She is a professional facilitator, social researcher and policy analyst with expertise in human services and Aboriginal issues.
She is Managing Director of Murawin Pty Ltd and the company’s Principal Consultant. Murawin is an Indigenous consultancy that specializes in evaluation and stakeholder engagement. Carol has been a senior manager with extensive experience in Aboriginal issues in government and not for profit sectors, which is supported by formal qualifications.
Qualifications: Murra Indigenous Business Program, Melbourne University, (2014), Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Leadership, Griffiths University (2007), Masters of Indigenous Studies, Southern Cross University (2005), Bachelor of Arts, University of New England (1999)
Samantha Joseph, Senior Aboriginal Associate
Samantha is a highly experienced Aboriginal professional with over 16 years’ experience specialising in the NSW human services system and Aboriginal affairs. She is a lawyer by profession and worked in legal, policy, advocacy and management roles in the not for profit, public and commercial sectors. She prides herself on her strong interpersonal skills and experience in building and managing relationships with key stakeholders at all levels, including government, business leaders and community, to foster positive outcomes.
Samantha has held management roles in NSW Government agencies where she oversaw the design and development of programs and managed reviews of programs and policies, which included analysing data and reporting to executive units and ministers’ offices. Agencies include the Aboriginal Housing Office, Family and Community Services, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and Department of Customer Service (formerly Finance Services and Innovation).
Samantha has extensive experience in Aboriginal affairs enhanced by working as the Deputy CEO at the Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec) from 2009 to 2012 and (former) Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council (AJAC) from 2006 – 2009. At AbSec, Samantha managed the design and implementation of strategies and programs following large scale government reform to improve the NSW child protection system.
Samantha is a current member of Ngalaya Aboriginal Corporation and the Aboriginal Steering Committee for Tenants NSW. She has also sat on a number of boards, including former Chairperson of Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre and Aboriginal Director of Shine for Kids and former editorial panellist for the Australian Indigenous Law Reporter.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts, University of New South Wales (2001), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law, NSW (2004)