First Stories
“Sharing stories creates ripples you can’t imagine”
First Stories and Solid Connections is a two-year truth-seeking and truth-listening project run in partnership between Centre for Stories, First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities across Western Australia.
About
First Stories &
Solid Connections
Led by Centre for Stories, in partnership with First Nations-led organisations, First Stories is dedicated to increasing the space and methodologies available to First Nations storytellers in ways that support their personal and community objectives.
Its sister program, Solid Connections, creates spaces for non-Indigenous peoples, particularly those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds to deeply listen to First Nations stories, share their own stories, and in turn, build meaningful relationships.
First Stories is funded by Lotterywest and our Centre for Stories donors.
Our aim
Grow capacity and awareness
Create opportunities and resources to grow our community’s understanding and capacity around truth-telling, truth-listening and truth-seeking.
Foster spaces for First Nations storytellers to share stories in ways that feel meaningful to them and support their personal and community objectives.
Create space
Strengthen relationships
Build a deeper understanding and nurture meaningful relationships between First Nations, non-Indigenous, and CaLD communities.
Working alongside Aboriginal-owned organisations using storytelling for healing, advocacy, and change.
Support community leadership
First Nations storytelling and
truth-seeking
Participants in First Stories have had opportunities to share their truth and stories through events, publications, podcasts, and digital platforms. A special LISTENING edition of our online international journal, Portside Review, was published in 2026.
Stories are shared with communities, families, and wider audiences in ways that feel meaningful and respectful to each storyteller.
All stories remain owned by the storytellers themselves and are only shared with explicit and revocable consent.
Left: Illustration by Tyrown Waigana.
Solid Connections
Solid Connections is a program designed for non-Indigenous Australians, particularly people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to learn about First Nations cultures, values, and shared histories.
Through reflection, creative writing, yarning, and deep listening to First Nations truths and stories, participants build a deeper understanding of truth, allyship and listening.
The program is dedicated to building meaningful relationships between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians through truth-telling, and truth-listening.
Our Solid Connections program is delivered by a CaLD facilitator from Centre for Stories and a First Nations facilitator, the program can be run over either one full-day session or 5 × 2-hour weekly sessions.
This program is delivered in partnership with First Nations people and organisations for predominantly non-Indigenous groups or organisations.
Contact us to learn more.
Truth-seeking Anthology & Resources
First Stories Storytelling Manual
A free resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and groups.
Sign up to be notified of when this resource will be available.
Breaking Through the Fire
A literature review of truth-telling, truth-listening and truth-seeking project.
Let Truth Be Told
A 2026 print anthology featuring works from First Nations writers.
First Stories Project Team 2025-2026
Luisa Mitchell • Project Manager
Savannah Travia-Dann • Storytelling & Events Coordinator
Isabelle Biondi Saville • Publications & Solid Connections Coordinator
Casey Mulder • Director, First Nations Writing & Programs
Mariela Espino Zuppa • Storytelling & Events Coordinator
Sisonke Msimang • Project Advisor
Ron Bradfield Jnr • Cultural Advisor
Aboriginal Advisory Group (AAG)
Michelle Broun • Duane Kelly • Kim Scott • Sharleah Ramirez • Toby Miller • Megan Ugle
Past AAG Member: Cindy Solonec
Regional
Elder’s Memoir Fellowship
Starting in 2025, Centre for Stories has supported three pairs through the First Nations Elder and Editor Memoir Fellowship. This fellowship has provided editorial mentorship, financial support and dedicated writing time, fostering an intergenerational exchange of knowledge and honouring First Nations voices and histories.
Jack Collard has collated Uncle Farley Garlett’s stories of picking grapes in the Swan Valley Region. Barbara Hostelek has been interviewing Brett Hill about his early childhood memories. Irma Woods has been working with both her mum and her aunty, Valerie Woods and Brenda Woods, to craft her mother’s memoir.
In 2026, Centre for Stories will be supporting three new fellows through the Regional Elder’s Memoir Fellowship. This fellowship supports Elders to write and record their own memoir stories with strong ties to regional Western Australia.
This fellowship is made possible through the generous funding of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Lotterywest and has been run in partnership with Magabala Books.
Evaluation Partners
First Stories is being independently evaluated by Walk Through Walls and Shifting Ground.
Insights and storytelling practices developed through the project will be shared publicly with partner organisations and communities.
We are honoured and grateful to continue to listen to, hold space and learn alongside storytellers, trainers, partners and advisors of this project.