We believe in wellbeing for all people.

Our Vision

For all people to be empowered to experience optimal wellbeing from the safety and strength of their own culture.

We work towards this by collaboratively building science around different ways of knowing and being. 

Origin Story

The Interplay Project came to life, as a result of a powerful campaign driven by Aboriginal leaders in central Australian communities, to empower desert knowledge. 

The funding for this research was secured from the Australian Government to develop a wellbeing framework to quantify Aboriginal knowledge and ways of being. 

 

Over 6 years of accumulative research throughout Aboriginal communities in remote Australia, The Interplay Wellbeing Framework was designed from the ground-up. To measure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values and stories, translating them to impactful data, bringing these values into policy.

We researched across demographics and remote communities around Australia, what they cared about and what they wanted out of life. Even considering the vibrant cultural diversity accross these groups, all voiced the same priorities – culture, empowerment and community. We worked collaboratively, within communities to translate their stories into numbers, to show how these values were intrinsically tied to peoples’ wellbeing.  We employed and trained 42 Aboriginal community researchers who co-designed and administered surveys to over 900 Aboriginal adults in their communities.

The Interplay Project began to empower communities in the design of programs that directly affect them. 

It is this belief that we still work towards today. 

Culture, empowerment and community.

Meet the Team

  • Shez

    CEO

    A Celtic descendent and Neuroscientist who has spent two decades leading health research and innovation projects in Aboriginal communities in the most remote parts of Australia. As Professor at Charles Darwin University, Shez has published over 50 scientific articles, produced creative and digital learning tools, and psychosocial screening instruments that are used across the country.

    Leading the design and development of The Interplay Project since 2011, Shez believes it can create sustained systemic change towards an equitable society, where all people have the chance to thrive. Shez is passionate about bringing together people and ideas to inspire and create change, particularly through integrating science, culture, art, business and policy.

    She loves people, country and colour.

  • Eleanor Parks

    SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR

  • Jamie Kokot

    CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER

  • New List Item

    Description goes here

Interplay at TedX

Our CEO Shez, has spent her adult life working in remote Australia, deep in sacred Aboriginal country, where the sky is blue and the earth burnt-orange. She has a deep respect for the Aboriginal communities who live within that landscape, and her current research hopes to answer some profoundly human questions – How do we define success? What makes us happy? And what can we learn from our ancient brothers and sisters.

Co-Founders

  • Monet Goode

    FOUNDER

  • Emmett Marsh

    DESIGN DIRECTOR

Meet our Advisors

We’ve been fortunate to have many wonderful advisors over the years.

Thank you to all of these people for their time and input, it’s been invaluable for us.

Terry Dunbar, Trevor Gurruwiwi, Frankie Merritt, Kim Grey, Julie Nankervis, Michael Bullot, Lu Steuart, Alyson Wright, Mike Salvaris, John Wakerman, Miliwanga Wurben, Amunda Gorey, Sven Silburn, Adrian Miller, Darren Benham, Lynette O'Donoghue, Janet Bugahiar, Kalinda Griffiths, Leisa McCarthy.

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge and honour the support and involvement of all of the people and communities who participated in the development phase of the Interplay Project.

Centre for Remote Health (Flinders University and Charles Darwin University), Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC), Northern Star Resources, Yalu Marŋgithinyaraw Aboriginal Corporation, Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre, Central Desert Native Title Services, Poche Centre of Indigenous Health, Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Muntjiltjarra Wurrgumu Group (MWG), Kalano Community Association, Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service, StrongBala Men's Health Program, Flinders NT-Katherine, Katherine Stolen Generations Group, Banatjarl Strongbala Wumin Grup, Martu Rangers (Wiluna), Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Service Community (NAHS).