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better evidence, fairer communities

Good decisions start with good evidence. For over 20 years, we’ve worked alongside government agencies, community services and peak bodies to understand what works, for whom and why, and to design programs that improve people’s lives. 

Research and policy analysis

Evaluation

Program Design

Co-Design and Stakeholder Engagement

From small research projects to multi—year outcome evaluations, Outpost have always delivered quality projects that result in thorough but concise reports with helpful findings and practical recommendations.

Outpost take a collaborative approach to project design and delivery that helps build our team’s understanding and skills in evaluation and research.

Outpost Consulting have always been easy to work with and you can rely on them to deliver the goods.

Katy is an absolute pleasure to work with.  In a very complex project, she has been able to build strong relationships with the partners and clearly demonstrate understanding of the work and the desired outcomes.  Her evaluation process has been clear and has supported the work of the team and the final evaluation has been an essential tool for the project in understanding our impact and planning next steps.

Working with Katy and the Outpost team these past twelve months has been fantastic. Katy’s expertise and professionalism in helping us to deliver a quality evaluation for our funding agency have been a breath of fresh air. Personally she is always helpful and ready to provide advice and guidance, and clearly understands the issues we have faced as a small community organisation. I highly recommend the Outpost Consulting team. It’s well worth the investment.

Projects

Why work with us ?

We are experienced

Since 2005, we’ve led or contributed to more than 200 projects for dozens of clients across government and the community sector. Our principal, Katy O’Callaghan, brings insider knowledge from senior roles in Commonwealth and State governments.

We are rigorous and ethical

Every project is built on sound methods and high professional standards guided by the AES Code of Ethics and the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research. As members of the Australian Evaluation Society and the Gilibanga network for Black evaluators we stay connected to current practice and the latest thinking in our field.

We are connected

We build teams with the exact mix of skills each project needs, drawing on a trusted network of researchers, evaluators, academics, creatives and community engagement specialists, including our sister business, Clarity Consortium.

We love what we do

We care about improving people’s wellbeing. We enjoy working closely with our clients, bringing together the best evidence and ideas, and keeping the people at the heart of the work.

Learn more
Queensland Government

Outpost Consulting: The anatomy of an Aboriginal-owned consultancy

For Indigenous Business Month, the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism profiled Katy O’Callaghan and how Outpost has grown over two decades of social policy work.

Read the story →

Meet our team

Katy O’Callaghan
Principal

Katy O’Callaghan is a social researcher, evaluator, writer and social policy analyst, with significant expertise in social inclusion, particularly issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability.

Prior to establishing Outpost Consulting in 2005, Katy worked in government research and policy, holding senior roles at both State and Commonwealth levels. As a consultant, she has undertaken over 200 projects. These include reviews and evaluations of social policies and programs, research and design for new policies and programs and working with organisations to plan, articulate and measure their work.

Katy is a proud descendent of the Quandamooka peoples of Moreton Bay.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Social Policy and Planning from the University of Queensland.

Gretchen Young
ASSOCIATE

Gretchen is an experienced facilitator, evaluator and researcher. She has a particular interest in improving the wellbeing of children, young people and families. Gretchen brings the principles of strategic foresight to all her work to support organisations and individuals to achieve their preferred future.

Sue Goodwin
ASSOCIATE

Sue is a skilled researcher, evaluator, facilitator and writer with a strong interest in education and training, mental health and community services. Having started working life as a teacher, she is passionate about clear and concise communication.

Rachel Healy
Rachel Healy
ASSOCIATE

Rachel is a critical thinker and sharp analyst with a passion for social justice. She is a researcher, evaluator and problem-solver with significant experience in public policy development.

Paula Johnston
ASSOCIATE

Paula has over 25 years’ experience dedicated to workforce development, with expertise in skill development and international education, in Australia and overseas. Known for a focus on outcomes, Paula offers creative but practical ideas and a ‘big picture’ view.

Samantha Cooper
Samantha Cooper
ASSOCIATE

Samantha is a proud Gumbauynggirr woman, specialising in consultation, community engagement design and facilitation, First Nations cultural competency and intelligence, strategy and service design, and program evaluation.

Caroline Macaulay
Caroline Macaulay
ASSOCIATE

Caroline is a skilled and intuitive facilitator who brings co-design to strategy, service design and team culture building. She has deep experience in the design, delivery and management of health services.

Belinda Gavaghan
ASSOCIATE

Dr Belinda Gavaghan has 20 years’ experience in clinical, research and management positions in health and human services. Belinda brings expertise and high level knowledge of government requirements for stakeholder engagement, program implementation, evaluation and reporting.

Our Clients

Busy at WorkC&KCommunity Services Industry AllianceDepartment of Social ServicesDepartment of EducationVictorian Department of EducationEndeavour FoundationGriffith UniversityLife Without BarriersNACCHONCVEROffice of the Public AdvocateQAIHCQCOSSQueensland GovernmentQueensland Mental Health CommissionTAFE QueenslandVolunteering ACTWorkability QldDepartment of Employment and Workplace RelationsOffice of the Registrar of Indigenous CorporationsMeals on WheelsNational Careers InstituteQueensland Department of Justice and Attorney-GeneralQueensland Department of Tourism, Innovation and SportMinderoo FoundationBenevolent SocietyQueenslanders with Disability NetworkCancer Institute NSWQueensland Public Sector CommissionMulticultural AustraliaQueensland Department of Transport and Main RoadsDepartment of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the ArtsQueensland Department of Housing and Public WorksQueensland Family and Child Commission

Contact us


    Ngaiya Jaagun wadi Mulgumpinya.
    We acknowledge the First Peoples of the lands on which we work and live, the Quandamooka and Turrbal people, and celebrate their sovereignty and enduring connection to Country.
    We pay our deep respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
     
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