About Kawu Balya
Learn more about our mission, our team, and the technology behind this culturally appropriate health solution for Indigenous communities.
Our Mission
Kawu Balya exists to empower Indigenous communities in remote Australia to take control of their health and wellbeing through culturally appropriate, accessible technology.
We believe that digital health solutions should be built with communities, not for them. Every feature, every word, every design choice has been shaped by the voices and wisdom of the people we serve.
Our Values
Trust
Because without trust, nothing works
Simplicity
Making the app accessible to all
Clarity
So users know exactly what to do
Respect
For language, culture, and experience
Co-Design with Community
Built on Country, with the very people it's designed to serve
Design Thinking Approach
Empathise
Listen to community voices and understand lived experiences
Define
Identify key needs and challenges from community feedback
Ideate
Brainstorm culturally appropriate solutions with advisors
Prototype
Build iterative versions with continuous community input
Test
Field testing in the Pilbara with real users
Community Elders & Residents
Whose lived wisdom shaped content and flow
Prof. Andrew Maiorana
Health lead ensuring clinical accuracy
Cate Hollingsworth
Cultural advisor guiding cultural safety
Innovation & Technology
Built with cutting-edge technology and guided by community wisdom
Radical Innovation
The Kawu Balya App represents a radical and architectural innovation in how health care is delivered and experienced in remote and culturally diverse communities.
- •Designed from the ground up for remote populations, not adapted from urban solutions
- •Combines personalized health management with culturally informed design
- •Patient-driven approach that promotes self-determination in wellbeing
- •Bridges the gap between patient autonomy and clinical oversight
Technical Architecture
Flutter Cross-Platform
Consistent experience on both Android and iOS devices
QR Code Integration
Secure data exchange with Medi-Kit App
Offline-First Design
Works in low-connectivity environments
Local Data Storage
Privacy-focused with PIN protection
Development Pipeline
Agile Development
Fast, iterative approach with regular GitHub releases
Community Input
Regular sessions with Elders, advisors, and health professionals
Real-World Testing
TestFlight and DeployGate for usability feedback
Field Deployment
Direct community testing in the Pilbara region
Privacy & Data Sovereignty
FAIR & CARE Principles
We strictly follow FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) principles.
- ✓Indigenous data sovereignty respected
- ✓All data stored locally on device
- ✓User consent required for all sharing
Security Features
- 🔒PIN-based login for shared devices
- 🔒End-to-end encryption for data protection
- 🔒Secure QR code communication with Medi-Kit
- 🔒No cloud storage without explicit consent
Scale & Integration Roadmap
Language Expansion
Support for other Aboriginal languages through visual-first interface
Health Programs
Extend to chronic disease, maternal care, and youth health
Voice Integration
Voice-guided navigation in Martu Wangka for oral communication
Gamification
Simple rewards to encourage healthy habits and clinic engagement
Meet Our Team
A passionate, multidisciplinary team from Curtin University combining academic expertise with student innovation to create meaningful change in remote health care.
Academic Leadership
Associate Professor Susannah Soon
Project Manager
Research and teaching academic in the School of Electrical Engineering, Computing, and Mathematical Sciences. Leading the Healthy Connections project with expertise in digital health innovation.
Associate Professor Sonny Pham
Technical Lead
Course Coordinator of Master of AI and academic staff with the School of EECMS. Leading the AI innovation aspects of the Healthy Connections project.
Professor Andrew Maiorana
Health Lead
Expert in developing innovative approaches in clinical practice to improve patient health outcomes. Brings crucial health sector expertise to the project.
Dr Kit Yan Chan
Research Lead
Senior Lecturer with research interests in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Providing specialized AI technical guidance for the project.
Student Innovators
Henry Truong
Full-stack Engineer
Master of Computing student majored in Cyber Security. Experienced full-stack engineer and tech advisor guiding key development decisions.
Jim Hie Ling
Mobile Developer
Computer Science student particularly interested in AI and software engineering. Building beautiful, intuitive mobile interfaces for the community.
Jacob Arvino
Mobile Developer
Final year Software Engineering student who excels in mobile app development. Bringing the app to life with focus on user experience.
Stefan Hofmann
UI/UX Researcher
Postgraduate student conducting initial research and design of the whole concept. Ensuring cultural sensitivity in design approaches.
Our Philosophy
We're a passionate team driven to use technology for good, especially where it's needed most. While we're students and academics, we've treated this project with professional care, building with empathy and purpose to create a tool that empowers people and makes healthcare more accessible in places where it's often out of reach.
Download Kawu Balya
Ready to get started? Download the Kawu Balya app on your mobile device.
Always free for the community
Android
Scan with your Android camera or QR code reader
iOS
Scan with your iPhone camera or QR code reader
How to Scan QR Codes
iPhone: Open Camera app, point at QR code, tap the notification
Android: Open Camera app or Google Lens, point at QR code
Recognition & Impact
Acknowledged for innovation and social impact
WAITTA INCITE Awards 2025
Winner - Social Impact Category
UN SDG Alignment
Good Health, Reduced Inequalities, Innovation
Always Free
Built for impact, not profit