Hunter Aboriginal Customer Research

Cultural Research & Engagement

Project overview
Mawambul worked with Transport for NSW to deliver Aboriginal customer research across the Hunter region. The project focused on understanding how Aboriginal communities experience and interact with transport — including access, use and barriers — to inform more responsive and inclusive planning. This work brought together research, engagement and cultural knowledge to ensure community perspectives were meaningfully reflected in decision-making.

Our approach
Our approach was grounded in culturally responsive research and engagement. We worked through existing relationships and networks across the Hunter, ensuring engagement was respectful, appropriate and minimised colonial load on community. The methodology combined both quantitative and qualitative approaches, allowing for a deeper understanding of lived experience alongside broader patterns of use.

Research approach
The project used a combination of methods:
Survey. An online survey captured broad insights across the region, supporting comparison with other regions and identifying patterns in transport use. Yarning. One-on-one and small group yarning sessions gathered deeper, qualitative insights through culturally appropriate conversation. Data review. Analysis of publicly available data, including census information, provided additional context around transport access and use.

Yarning was central to the approach — creating space for conversation, relationship-building and knowledge sharing in a way that aligns with cultural protocols and practices.

Community
The research was informed through engagement with a range of voices connected to place, ensuring insights reflected diverse perspectives and lived experience.

Cultural approach
Cultural responsiveness underpinned all aspects of the project.

This included:
Working through trusted community relationships
Ensuring culturally appropriate methods of engagement
Protecting participant knowledge and confidentiality
Adapting the approach in response to community

The work moved beyond a standard research model, prioritising relational ways of working and shared understanding.

Collaboration
The project was delivered through a networked approach, drawing on local Aboriginal engagement leads embedded within community.
This supported:

Stronger relationships and trust
Reduced colonial load
Local knowledge informing engagement and outcomes
Capacity building and employment opportunities within community

Outcome
The project provides a grounded understanding of how Aboriginal communities experience transport across the Hunter region — bringing forward insights that are often not captured through standard research approaches. By centring community voices and lived experience, the work contributes to more informed, culturally responsive planning and supports better outcomes for both community and the systems that shape how people move through Country.