Data is hugely important to identify issues, validate stories and measure change. More important is the concept of Indigenous data sovereignty: the right of our own people to govern the collection, ownership and application of our own data. The remoteness of the Far West Region is both a difficulty and a blessing from a data perspective. Small populations over a large area make it difficult for governments to report at a local level, but it creates a richness in local understanding of issues and data accuracy. 

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Data is about telling stories: stories captivate, data validates. 

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Local and government data can be overlayed and analysed to identify and make inferences about stories or problems across data sets as well as identify gaps. From there, we focus on the top questions the community wants answered and this is where efforts should be concentrated on collecting data, information, identifying gaps and prioritising funding.

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The collection of data against our change indicators* provides evidence of long-term system change. Community-led indicators developed in line with Regional Strategies are used to create grassroots evidence of change locally.