The first year of First Stories: Storytelling, listening and impact
A look back at the first year of First Stories and the voices, workshops and relationships that shaped it.
December 9, 2025
We’ve had an incredible first year of the First Stories project!
First Stories is a two-year story-telling and story-listening project run in partnership between Centre for Stories, First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities across Western Australia to build lasting relationships, storytelling skills and healing. Our team is led by Sisonke Msimang, Luisa Mitchell and Savannah Travia-Dann, with support from Centre for Stories’ First Nations Writing Programs Director, Casey Mulder.
This year, Sisonke and Luisa produced a draft literature review into impactful methods of truth-telling and truth-listening based on other similar projects in Australia and overseas. This research and other publications will be refined over the term of the project and shared as a resource for the community upon completion in 2027.
Centre for Stories formed an Aboriginal Advisory Group (AAG) to oversee the project’s cultural integrity and partnered with Walk Through Walls and Shifting Ground to provide independent and high-quality evaluation.
We were able to deliver some heart-warming and healing storytelling and writing workshops in Boorloo/Perth and Kinjarling/Albany, including in partnership with organisations such as Southern Aboriginal Corporation, Wagyl Keip Aboriginal Corporation rangers, Carers WA Gwabba Koort support group, and high schools such as Gilmore College and Albany Senior High School.
We have enabled two First Nations Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowships for four community members (Barbara Hostalek, Uncle Brett Hill, Jack Collard and Uncle Farley Garlett) and will be announcing a third fellow pair very soon. The Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowships support the intergenerational knowledge transference between senior First Nations custodians and younger people, while developing editing and writing skills for the younger person. Applications are open on an ongoing basis – learn more and apply here.
With the storytellers’ consent, Centre for Stories will share stories recorded during these workshops with the wider community throughout next year, in person, online and in print – providing an exciting opportunity for the storytellers to bring their lived experience and creative writing to new audiences.
We also launched our pilot program Solid Connections in Boorloo, which supported ten participations from CaLD backgrounds to build stronger relationships with First Nations people and cultures. Facilitated by Sisonke Msimang, the group were able to learn more about Deep Time, the city’s colonial history, Noongar values from Uncle Len Collard (Moodjar), and develop stronger listening skills.
In October, Luisa was also able to travel to Rubibi/Broome to attend and speak at Magabala Books’ intergenerational story-sharing conference and meet with several organisations about possible partnership and workshop delivery in the Kimberley region next year.
But before we move into 2026, we look back on the stories shared this year, grateful and honoured to be holding space for the storytellers we have worked with so far.
With love, story and gratitude, from the First Stories team.
Interested in our programs?
First Stories programs, including oral storytelling and writing workshops and events, and Solid Connections workshops, will continue to be delivered in 2026 in Boorloo as well as other regional communities, such as the Kimberley and Pilbara.
If you are a First Nations organisation interested in partnering with Centre for Stories, please contact Luisa Mitchell (Project Manager) at luisa@centreforstories.com.
If you are a First Nations person hoping to record or write your personal story, including applying for an Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowship, please contact Storytelling & Events Coordinator Savannah Travia-Dann at savannah@centreforstories.com.
If you are a rural or regional community group or organisation that works with CaLD people and want us to deliver Solid Connections for you, please contact Sisonke Msimang at sisonke@centreforstories.com.
Feature image: Moorditj Maaman (Indigo Junction) participants sharing their oral stories at an end-of-program event with facilitator Robert Wood.
Help us do more
We’re on a mission to create a diverse, inclusive, and cohesive society through the art of storytelling. Join us in supporting emerging artists and sharing powerful stories from across our community.
