Sago+ team builds on shared strengths and prepares for pilot fieldwork during two-day workshop

The Sago+ project team gathered for a workshop on 17-18 September 2026 in Brisbane, Australia. The team met in Brisbane in conjunction with PNG-based members attending to other commitments such as graduation from their Australian universities. Next year the plan is for the team to gather for another workshop at the University of Technology in Lae, PNG.

The Brisbane workshop provided an opportunity for team members to connect face-to-face, strengthen a shared understanding of the project, and collaboratively explore approaches and plan  for commencing fieldwork in Western Province (WP), Papua New Guinea (PNG) in October 2026. 

The workshop foregrounded building on shared strengths of team members. Using an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, the team reflected on the knowledge, skills, relationships, and lived experiences they bring to the Sago+ project. Discussions highlighted the diversity of expertise within the team, ranging from community engagement, facilitation, and research skills to agriculture, disability inclusion, storytelling, and local cultural knowledge. The exercise reinforced the idea that the success of Sago+ will depend not only on individual member’s technical expertise, but also on the collective strengths, networks, and experiences of its members.

Participants stressed that the workshop helped them better understand the respective pathways and how they are linked, reinforcing the importance of collaboration across all pathways. The team also discussed the relationship between Indigenous and scientific knowledge systems. Team members considered the importance of enabling meaningful dialogues between these knowledge systems in order to contribute to a richer understanding of food systems, livelihoods, and local environments. Conversations reaffirmed the project's commitment to valuing local knowledge and recognising communities as active knowledge holders rather than simply research participants.

The workshop emphasised the importance of creating an inclusive research and capacity building environment where all team members feel comfortable contributing ideas, asking questions, and challenging assumptions. According to Tabitha,

It was wonderful to meet the team members in person. I can now say that I am not scared of anyone, not that the team members are scary, but the interaction here at the workshop has allowed me to confidently contribute to the discussion. We are a community and we ourselves are learning ethical negotiations through our interaction here at the workshop and through online interactions and that is a value that underpins this project.

Conversations around participation and collective decision-making highlighted the need for ongoing reflection and capacity building as the project evolves. For team members, the opportunity to meet colleagues in person was a significant highlight of the workshop. Beyond strengthening professional relationships, face-to-face engagement helped build confidence, trust, and a stronger sense of belonging within the team. According to Evelyn:

Meeting in-person the team members was great as I not only got to know them in their professional capacity in the project but also on a personal level. We not only got to engage in the room but also outside which adds that personal touch. It has made me feel more open to engaging and sharing ideas with the team not only during the workshop but going forward.

A recurring insight throughout the workshop was that the project document should be viewed as a guide rather than a fixed blueprint. The team recognised that while project objectives provide direction, implementation approaches must remain responsive to local realities, emerging learning, and community priorities. Team members highlighted the importance of adapting research methods and activities as the team gains experience through field engagement and learning alongside communities. Tabitha echoed this insight: 

The Sago+ project proposal document is not a one size fits all document but is a guide or roadmap that we can use to adapt to the methodologies that best fit our project. As the project progresses, the team can learn from experience, reflect on what works and adapt research methods to suit communities and circumstances.

The project team also committed to translating and adapting ideas and methods to ensure that they make sense and become meaningful for Community Researchers who would soon become involved in the project. The team emphasised the importance of conducting the training with Community Researchers in phases, incorporating peer mentoring and reflection journals, and establishing regular feedback mechanisms that allow learning needs to emerge over time. There was strong recognition that meaningful community engagement requires flexibility, listening, and a willingness to learn from onsite experience. The team highlighted the need to refine project language so that key concepts can be communicated in ways that are meaningful and accessible within local contexts. The workshop also informed ongoing revisions to the project's Fieldwork Guidance Note and helped shape a phased approach to community engagement during fieldwork. There was strong support for embedding regular reflection and learning processes throughout implementation, while continuing to strengthen communication and collaboration across pathways, institutions, and project partners.

As the workshop concluded, participants reflected on both the opportunities and challenges ahead. With awareness that the research itself is testing out a way of working that requires us to listen observe, adapt and then figure out what comes next, there is  a shared team commitment to fostering a PNG-led, community-centred research approach grounded in partnership, collaboration, and mutual learning and respect. One message that resonated strongly throughout the workshop was the importance of shared leadership. As Evelyn recalled a statement shared by a senior team member, 

As co-designers of this project, it is important that we know when to lead and when to let others lead.

The Brisbane workshop marked an important milestone in the Sago+ journey. More than a planning meeting, it enabled project members to strengthen relationships, build a shared understanding of the project's pathways, identify priorities for implementation, and establish a collective foundation for the work ahead in WP.