Storytelling sits at the heart of how we understand people, relationships and systems. In our sector, the way stories are shared and interpreted carries real influence, shaping practice, culture and outcomes. This workshop at PreventX 2026 creates space to explore how we can engage with stories in ways that uphold dignity, agency and justice. 

Drawing on lived experience and systems practice, the session introduces practical frameworks for ethical storytelling. Facilitated by Morgan Cataldo, a leading practice innovator and strategist in ethical storytelling and systems change, it blends lived experience insight with tools to strengthen narrative practice. Participants will examine their roles as storytellers, witnesses and institutional narrators, explore ethical tensions around consent and representation, and work with frameworks such as a cost–opportunity matrix to support more intentional, non-extractive approaches. 

Designed for practitioners, leaders and policy professionals, this session offers a grounded, action-oriented foundation for embedding dignity-centred storytelling across programs, partnerships and organisational culture. 

Collaboration and partnership are essential in primary prevention. It increases reach and impact, strengthens policy and advocacy, and makes programs more relevant to the communities they aim to reach and serve. This is because different stakeholders bring distinct responsibilities, resources, and expertise that, together, extend what any single organisation can achieve. 

Despite this, organisations often put a lot of thought into how programs are designed, but little into how relationships within a partnership are built and maintained to support those programs. As a result, challenges such as power imbalances and inequities creep in. Without care and proper attention, partnerships can replicate harm and exclusion, reproduce colonial practices, reinforce hierarchies, and silence those most affected by the inequities that primary prevention seeks to address. 

This workshop will take a storytelling approach to exploring how equity can be built and maintained through partnership. The workshop has been designed for those who are actively involved in collaboration or delivery work through partnership. Experience of working in a partnership will be assumed and a level of understanding of the benefits and challenges of working in partnership. Drawing on participant experiences, and a forthcoming Safe and Equal resource on this very topic, participants will learn about fundamental concepts of partnership, and practice storytelling techniques to explore a key partnership challenge – power imbalances. 

This workshop introduces participants to 2WUMEL, a First Nations–led framework that reshapes the way organisations understand impact, measure change and embed learning. Grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems, 2WUMEL offers a holistic and culturally grounded approach that places community leadership, relational accountability and Indigenous Data Sovereignty at the centre of evaluation and decision-making. 

Throughout the session, participants will explore how 2WUMEL combines traditional ways of knowing with contemporary evaluation practice, creating a meaningful and integrity-driven foundation for understanding what works and why. The workshop will unpack how culturally anchored learning systems can strengthen programs and services, build genuine partnerships, and support organisations to move beyond extractive approaches. 

Facilitated by Kowa Collaboration, this session offers a reflective and practical learning environment for practitioners who are seeking to deepen their capability in culturally responsive evaluation. Attendees will leave with a clearer sense of how storytelling strengthens ethical, community-driven approaches to learning, impact and change.