Karlup Aboriginal Family Safety Project Birdiya Panel Established

Karlup Aboriginal Corporation is proud to be uplifting the voices of local Aboriginal community members to influence the design and delivery of services for Aboriginal people across the City of Swan and surrounding areas.

Through the Aboriginal Family Safety Project, funded by the Department of Communities, Karlup has been working in close partnership with local Elders and community leaders to ensure that culturally informed guidance shapes every stage of our work.

To ensure strong cultural leadership and community ownership, Karlup has established the Birdiya Aboriginal Family Safety Panel — a group of respected Elders and Leaders who bring cultural authority, local knowledge, and deep care for their community.

An Expression of Interest process invited community participation, followed by yarning circles where heartfelt stories, wisdom, and lived experiences were shared and honoured.

From these conversations, seven Elders and Leaders were selected to form the inaugural Birdiya Panel:

These respected community members will work alongside Karlup and the City of Swan to co-design the Aboriginal Family Safety Decision-Making Framework.

The Aboriginal Family Safety Decision-Making Framework will guide how services meaningfully engage with the Birdiya Panel and local community representatives on initiatives that:

This collaborative approach ensures that Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing remain at the heart of the work, supporting safer, stronger, and more connected families.