Community First Development
is a First Nations led
community development
& research organisation

We back the aspirations of First Peoples through community-led solutions.

WELCOME!

We work with 100s of communities across Australia on their top priorities, providing community development expertise and access to cross-industry specialised skills.

Four illustrated icons with text underneath. The first icon is an orange sphere connected to others with lines, labeled "By Invitation Only." The second icon is a teal sphere with "100% Community Driven." The third icon shows three hands reaching towards each other, labeled "Practical Support." The fourth icon is a blue circular pattern, labeled "Proven Impact."

Our Approach

Our approach to working with First Nations communities is based on self-determination.

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Strengthening On-Country Healing

Karen Reys knows the importance of healing and connection to Country. Karen founded CEED Healing with her sisters, Sue and Jennifer. CEED Healing creates culturally grounded spaces where people reconnect with culture, story and Country and build respectful relationships. Your gift will help Community First Development support organisations like CEED Healing,, so their work can continue to grow.

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CEED Healing community gathering

Wondering about our impact?

Check out our Annual Report, an independent socio-economic impact assessment by ACIL Allen, and our latest research report on Redefining Wealth.

A report titled "Socio-economic Impact Statement" by Acil Allen, dated August 2025, with a purple geometric cover design.
Check out our ACIL Allen report
Cover of a community development annual report for 2024-25 featuring an image of a woman with a camera taking a photo of an older woman in a desert landscape with mountains in the background, and colorful abstract graphics at the top.
Check out our Annual Report
Cover page of a report titled "Redefining Wealth" with a subtitle "The true value of First Nations' Community Based Enterprises" and a date "August 2025." The cover features a central photo of diverse people, including children, working together on a mural, surrounded by colorful icons representing community, teamwork, growth, and sustainability.
Check out our Research Report

Add your voice to our message wall

We’re enjoying the messages of support flooding in!

We’re gathering the memories, milestones, and reflections that show the strength of self-determination, community, culture, and connection.

Whether you’ve partnered with us, volunteered, or simply believe in the power of First Nations’ community-led change, your message matters.

View message wall
Submit a message
Celebrating 25 years with colorful number 25 design and the words 'Celebrating 25 Years' around it.
Map of Australia divided into three regions: Western Region in yellow, Central Region in orange, and Eastern Region in blue, each labeled accordingly.

25 years.
1000+ communities.
Countless stories of change.

See our impact come to life in our interactive map.

Discover how every pin tells a story of partnership, cultural strength, and community-led change.

View the map

Our new Right Way Evaluation guide!

Too often, monitoring and evaluation overlook the cultural and historical context, missing what really matters to First Nations’ communities. Our guide offers a culturally responsive approach, grounded in self-determination, community leadership, and strengths-based practice.

Download free guide now
A group of people sitting in a circle in a community room, participating in a storytelling activity, with colorful posters on the walls and a blanket on the floor.

Some of the communities we work with

Two men having a conversation indoors; one man is wearing a black blazer and blue shirt and appears to be speaking, the other man is wearing a black jacket with a name tag that says 'Peter' and a patch of the Australian flag.

First Nations Traffic Management

Create employment opportunities for First Nations people with a unique two-way approach.

Support we provided:
Tender writing and development support.

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Children sitting on grass, wearing hats, raising hands, attending an outdoor educational activity with a man in a colorful shirt leading.

Wandarrah Preschool & Community Centre

An early childhood hub focusing on cultural education.

Support we provided:
Developing a strategic plan.

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This is the side of a white Suzuki vehicle with advertising stickers for 'Murris on the move' and a phone number, featuring decorative green and white circular designs and a red lizard graphic.

Murri’s on the Move

Supports their mob to get their learners and full provisional driving licence.

Support we provided:
Strengthen their governance, admin, and financial capabilities.

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Group of women sitting on couches and chairs in a colorful room, participating in a discussion or activity, with papers and pictures on the floor.

Yurrampi Child and Family Centre

To support families to ‘grow children up strong’.

Support we provided:
Brand development.

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Latest Stories

Two men working on laptops at a dining table in a kitchen with sunlight coming through a window. There are artwork pieces on the window and a bottle of water on the table.

50 Years of Deadly: Community Leadership in Action

7 July 2026

A presentation at the AIATSIS SUMMIT 2026 with a slide that says 'What is an ILF?', a speaker standing at a podium on the right, and a large screen on the left. The event is held at the Gold Coast from June 1 to June 5.

Growing on Country: Why Indigenous-led funds matter

22 June 2026

Four people standing and talking outdoors in a green, grassy area with tall plants and trees, under a partly cloudy sky.

National Volunteer Week: volunteering in First Nations’ communities

21 May 2026

Five smiling people standing outdoors in front of bushes, some wearing black polo shirts, one wearing an orange cardigan, some with glasses, all embracing each other.

Connecting with communities across South Australia

We need your support to continue this work

Your gift supports First Nations-led community development with communities across Australia.

Donate

See our Community Development Framework!

This guide brings together over 20 years of experience and practical guidance on developing strong and productive partnerships with First Nations’ organisations, businesses and communities.

Download here
A colorful diagram of the community development framework with five interconnected circles labeled 'Reflect & Celebrate,' 'Our Understanding,' 'Engage & Empower,' 'Design & Deliver,' and 'Connect & Build'.

Closing the Gap

We have and continue to contribute to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. There is a strong alignment between our Story of Change outcomes areas and the Closing the Gap socio-economic outcomes areas.

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Desert landscape with red sand, sparse bushes, and a clear blue sky.