COMMUNITY FIRST DEVELOPMENT IS A FIRST NATIONS LED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH ORGANISATION
We back the aspirations of First Peoples through community-led solutions.
WELCOME!
We work with 100s of communities across Australia on their top priorities, providing community development expertise and access to cross-industry specialised skills.
Our Approach
Our approach to working with First Nations communities is based on self-determination.
You can’t be what you can’t see.
That belief drives Blakdoll Sports & Fitness Mob, a First Nations-led social enterprise founded by Vanessa Stokes. Blakdoll is creating opportunities for children and young people in remote and regional communities to build confidence, culture, wellbeing and leadership through sport.
Your donation can support more First Nations children to see what is possible.
Wondering about our impact?
Check out our Annual Report, an independent socio-economic impact assessment by ACIL Allen, and our latest research report on Redefining Wealth.
Our new Right Way Evaluation guide!
Too often, monitoring and evaluation overlook the cultural and historical context, missing what really matters to First Nations’ communities. Our guide offers a culturally responsive approach, grounded in self-determination, community leadership, and strengths-based practice.
Wondering about our impact?
Check out our Annual Report, an independent socio-economic impact assessment by ACIL Allen, and our latest research report on Redefining Wealth.
Some of the communities we work with
First Nations Traffic Management
Create employment opportunities for First Nations people with a unique two-way approach.
Support we provided:
Tender writing and development support.
Wandarrah Preschool & Community Centre
An early childhood hub focusing on cultural education.
Support we provided:
Developing a strategic plan.
Murri’s on the Move
Supports their mob to get their learners and full provisional driving licence.
Support we provided:
Strengthen their governance, admin, and financial capabilities.
Yurrampi Child and Family Centre
To support families to ‘grow children up strong’.
Support we provided:
Brand development.
Add your voice to our message wall
We’re enjoying the messages of support flooding in!
We’re gathering the memories, milestones, and reflections that show the strength of self-determination, community, culture, and connection.
Whether you’ve partnered with us, volunteered, or simply believe in the power of First Nations’ community-led change, your message matters.
25 years.
1000+ communities.
Countless stories of change.
See our impact come to life in our interactive map.
Discover how every pin tells a story of partnership, cultural strength, and community-led change.
View the mapOur new Right Way Evaluation guide!
Too often, monitoring and evaluation overlook the cultural and historical context, missing what really matters to First Nations’ communities. Our guide offers a culturally responsive approach, grounded in self-determination, community leadership, and strengths-based practice.
Download free guide now
Some of the communities we work with
We partner with communities right across Australia. Recent examples include First Nations Traffic Management (creating employment through a two-way approach), Wandarrah Preschool & Community Centre (an early childhood hub focused on cultural education), Murri’s on the Move (supporting their mob to gain their driving licences), and Yurrampi Child and Family Centre (helping families ‘grow children up strong’).
We need your support to continue this work
Your gift supports First Nations-led community development with communities across Australia.
See our Community Development Framework!
This guide brings together over 20 years of experience and practical guidance on developing strong and productive partnerships with First Nations’ organisations, businesses and communities.
Closing the Gap
We continue to contribute to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. There is a strong alignment between our Story of Change outcome areas and the Closing the Gap socio-economic outcome areas.
