Across generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have gathered to share knowledge, strengthen relationships and carry culture forward.
The Gilibanga Gathering continues this tradition.
More than a conference, Gilibanga is a gathering of people, stories, ideas and experiences. It is a place where Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing guide how we learn, connect and imagine the future together.
This year, under the theme Weaving Our Light, we invite contributors from across Australia to help shape a gathering that celebrates Indigenous evaluation, honours the wisdom of those who have come before us, and lights pathways for those who will follow.
Whether you are an Elder, evaluator, researcher, artist, storyteller, practitioner, community leader or emerging changemaker, your knowledge has a place here.
Gilibanga is a traditional word meaning Create. Make. Light.
Create — imagining new possibilities and challenging systems that have never been designed for us.
Make — grounding that vision in practice, through lived experience, tools, and ways of working that centre community and culture.
Light — illuminating our stories, amplifying our voices, and carrying forward a collective mandate for change.
A Network for Blak Evaluators
& Trusted Allies
By Mob.
For Mob.
Australia's First
Black Evaluators Conference.
Gilibanga is a Blak Evaluators and Trusted Allies Network, bringing together First Nations evaluators, practitioners, communities, organisations, and trusted allies who are committed to strengthening Indigenous-led evaluation.
This is not a traditional gathering.
We are intentionally shifting away from rigid, transactional formats to create a space that reflects First Nations ways of knowing, being, and doing.
Rather than rushing into sessions and schedules, we begin with connection—grounding ourselves in place, in relationships, and in shared purpose.
Throughout the Gathering, we centre:
- Cultural integrity over credentials
- Yarning circles over panels
- Shared meals and movement over back-to-back PowerPoints
- Collective wisdom over individual expertise
Whether you are a Blak evaluator, a trusted ally, or someone committed to culturally grounded evaluation practice, Gilibanga offers a space to connect, learn, reflect, and contribute to strengthening Indigenous evaluation through relationships, reciprocity, and shared knowledge.
A Network for Blak Evaluators
& Trusted Allies
Turning yarns
into insights.
Australia's First
Black Evaluators Conference.
What to Expect
Cultural ceremonies and grounding practices
Yarning circles and collective discussions
Dedicated spaces for Blak voices, alongside spaces for allies to listen and learn
Opportunities for young people, Elders, men and women to gather in ways that feel right
Practice-based sessions, storytelling, and shared learning
A celebration of Blak excellence through culture, art, and community
Why This Matters
For too long, First Nations voices have been marginalised within evaluation and decision-making systems.
Gilibanga is reclaiming that space.
This Gathering brings together evaluators, practitioners, researchers, organisations, and allies from across the country to:
Strengthen culturally-led evaluation practice
Build relationships and community
Share knowledge and lived experience
Shape the future of how impact is understood and valued
