Partners in storytelling: a masterclass to improve community storytelling and centre the lived experience

The telling of stories can be a powerful tool for the communication of knowledge, and the building of community. It can also be an act of profound vulnerability, and may have impacts that are not immediately apparent. So what can we, as listeners, do to create a safe and supportive environment for young people to tell their stories, and how can we ensure that we share them in a safe and ethical way?

This presentation and Q&A will support advocacy organisations and health consumer advocates to:

• co-design safer spaces to create and tell consumer stories with respect, sensitivity, and appreciation of people’s lived experiences
• rethink how to tell stories more powerfully by placing the community at the centre
• develop processes and strategies to better reach audiences, benefitting consumers and the community.

Two facilitators from Our Race will take participants through the five principles of Transformational Ethical Story Telling (TEST) framework. This introductory presentation and Q&A will allow participants to understand how each principle can be applied and to determine which principles and actions need to be prioritised for each organisation’s Story Telling and community engagement processes. Key questions will be posed to allow participants to navigate the challenges faced when engaging with Story Holders (including young people and community members).


How to participate

This masterclass was held on Tuesday 17 January 1pm–3:30pm (AEDT)

You can access the recording, support tools and workbooks here. 
 

Masterclass delivery

Part 1
1pm-2:30pm

• An overview of common storytelling practices and the risks involved in telling these stories
• An introduction to the TEST framework and how it can be applied to improve storytelling practices
• Identifying strategies using the TEST framework to improve youth health storytelling practices

Part 2
2:30pm-3:30pm

• Q&A session
   

Other information

• This masterclasse was  recorded and uploaded onto the CHF website, along with support tools and resources.
• Participants had the option to have their names and contributions excluded from the final edit. 

About Our Race

Our Race is a social enterprise that uses tools and techniques to reset social power imbalances, allowing people and communities to create and direct their own stories. The approach is grounded in First Nations’ storytelling, which prioritises and honours cultural knowledge and safety. Our Race has developed the Transformational Ethical Story Telling (TEST) framework to guide safe and respectful storytelling.

Website: Our Race
LinkedIn: Our Race | LinkedIn
Instagram: our_race