Dr Jessica Harris.
Dr Jessica Harris is a Darkinjung woman, an Indigenous researcher, and a behavioural scientist with a PhD in Behavioural Science. Her work delivers nationally significant impact in Indigenous domestic and family violence, child and youth mental health, conservation, and Closing the Gap priorities.
First Nations-led. Evidence-informed. Implementation focused.
From evidence to implementation to impact.
Research & Policy Impact
Jess works closely with government agencies, including the Australian Defence Force and local councils, to design, implement, and evaluate Indigenous-led, theory-driven behavioural interventions. Her research has directly informed policy and practice in Indigenous health, employment, and community wellbeing.
This includes evidence that has shaped culturally appropriate nutrition and health promotion programs in Indigenous communities (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022) and research demonstrating the role of Indigenous-owned businesses in improving Indigenous employment outcomes and economic self-determination (Australian Journal of Social Issues, 2023; 2022), contributing to Closing the Gap policy discussions.
Frameworks & Evaluation
Jess has been building and evaluating behavioural and evaluation frameworks for over a decade, translating behavioural theory into robust, practical systems for government and community programs. Her work strengthens accountability, program effectiveness, and outcome measurement across social marketing and behaviour change initiatives.
Funding & Investment
Jess has secured over $1 million in funding over the past year, supporting Indigenous-led, community-driven research and programs that deliver measurable, lasting impact.
Masterclasses & Mentoring
Beyond her research and advisory work, Jess delivers masterclasses and one-on-one mentoring, equipping practitioners, leaders and organisations with practical skills in behavioural science, co-design, evaluation and systems change.
Conservation & Measurable Outcomes
Jess is also recognised for delivering large-scale behavioural interventions with measurable outcomes. Her conservation research, including a citywide social marketing program that engaged dog trainers and local governments (Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 2021), directly informed local government practice and contributed to a 40% reduction in koala deaths from dog attacks across multiple regions.
First Nations-led. Evidence-informed. Implementation focused.
There are organisations that specialise in evaluation. Others specialise in strategy. Others facilitate community consultation. Others provide behavioural science.
We bring these capabilities together.
That means we can work with a client from the earliest stages of understanding a challenge through to designing a response, implementing it and measuring whether it worked.
First Nations leadership
Behavioural science
Systems thinking
Co-design
Evaluation
Implementation
How we work matters as much as what we deliver.
We don't parachute into communities.
We build relationships.
We don't undertake consultation simply to validate decisions that have already been made.
We create space for community authority to shape decisions.
We don't treat First Nations Peoples as the problem to be fixed.
We examine the systems, environments, policies and structures influencing outcomes—while recognising community strengths, knowledge and existing solutions.
We don't produce research simply to sit on a shelf.
We translate evidence into action.
Tell us what you're trying to change.
Whether you're developing a new initiative, strengthening an existing program, trying to understand a complex system or looking for a better way to demonstrate impact, we'd love to hear about it.
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