we do co-design training, supervision and facilitation
KA McKercher (say it: kay-ay, mck-ker-cha)
trying to take care, take time and take accountability
KA (them/they) runs Beyond Sticky Notes and is the author of the book of the same name. They are based on unceded Aboriginal land and:
📚 teach design, co-design and facilitation
🗺️ supervise and coach co-design practitioners and leaders
🛟 help communities and organisations work better together
💬 help to create and communicate co-design processes and practices
✏️ write or co-write friendly resources (see examples here and here)
✋ co-facilitate in-person and virtual co-design
KA is known internationally for their co-design frameworks and tools. Over the past 13 years, they’ve focused on co-design and service design in health and social care. KA brings all of who they are into their work with extra care for people who have experience oppression, trauma or minority stress.
View KA’s scope of practice, work history, training, lived experience and memberships below ⬇️
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KA is a designer, facilitator, writer and non-clinical supervisor.
They mainly specialise in co-design within health and social care.
They don’t offer:
Conflict resolution
Mediation
Therapy
For specialist work (such as co-design with children) or culturally-specific projects they’ll often partner with others, including the folks listed on this page. If you're not sure if KA can help you, send us an email. We'll always do our best to point you towards other practitioners if we're not the right people to do your project.
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Head of Innovation and Design at NSW Health Pathology (Government, Australia)
Principal, Participatory Design at The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI)
Design for Social Innovation Lead at Innovate Change New Zealand
Service Design Consultant, Optimal Experience New Zealand.
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🎓 Bachelor of Design Innovation from Victoria University (Wellington)
KA has done additional training in:
professional supervision
coaching
trauma-aware practice (including: safety and stabilisation, working with other LGBTQIA+ folks, rupture and repair, vicarious resistance, managing vicarious trauma, Indigenous-specific trauma informed practice)
KA continues to build and maintain their competency in the areas above through regular training, supervision and peer support.
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KA is a victim survivor and queer person. Their lived and living experience connects them with:
Gender-affirming care
LGBTQ+ policy, service design and delivery
Domestic and family violence
Child protection and foster caring
Mental health
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KA has the following memberships:
AusPATH (Australian Professional Association for Trans Health) 🏳️⚧️
Australian Association for Adolescent Health
collage art by Jess Holdaway and photos of KA taken by They Muse
collaborators
Jessie Robinson
Jessie (he/him) is a proud Wiradjuri man connected to the Bogan River People in Western NSW, Australia. He is the Founder of Mawang Consulting, Mawang is the Wiradjuri word for "All Together". Jessie brings 14 years of professional experience alongside his lived experience to his work as a specialist consultant and changemaker. His expertise lies in guiding stakeholders on how to safely engage with First Nations people and communities to drive social and systemic change.
Jessie is deeply passionate about enabling self-determination by weaving voices of lived experience and expertise into the design process, influencing and reshaping systems for meaningful impact. He excels in facilitating two-way learning by fostering genuine connections and adapting communication styles across diverse environments. His cultural expertise, combined with a commitment to deep listening and navigating 'two worlds,' enables Jessie to bridge gaps and create understanding in varied settings. Find out more by connecting with Jessie on Linkedin.
Morgan Cataldo
Morgan (she/her) is the founder of morgan&co and has over 15 years of personal and professional expertise collaborating with individuals, communities and organisations to reimagine the role those who experience systematic exclusion play in social change. She holds a degree in Social Science, is a Visiting Fellow at RMIT University School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, and serves on the Board of Collaboration for Impact.
Sue Muller
Sue (she/her) is the founder of The Better Together Collective and publishes With Us - a celebration of doing with, not for. She has worked in health, mental health and wellbeing for over a decade, in management, leadership, advocacy, and advisory roles. Her experience includes local health services, state bodies, the federal government, national consultancies, private companies, university research projects, and joint ventures.
Emerson Osterberg
Emerson Osterberg (they/them) is a Clinical, Educational and Developmental Psychologist with 15+ years’ experience working with children and young people, and their families. Emerson has worked in educational settings, public health and is the director of HMHK Psychology. Their practice specifically supports neurodivergent young people and the LGBTQIA+ community, with a specific focus on trans youth mental health. Emerson focuses on empowering young people to understand and embrace their identities, and works with families and other systems to create safe and supportive environments where they can thrive.
Jess Holdaway
Jess (she/her) is a visual story-teller who is passionate about the meaning we make. Exploring meaning making through visual expressions, Jess dives deep into the world of symbolism and metaphor to express stories that bring change. Jess works with KA to bring co-design concepts and feelings to life through visual expression. You can see more of Jess' work here.
Rachael Dietkus, LCSW
Rachael (she/her) is a social worker and designer with deep areas of specialized practice in trauma, systems, and social care mentorship, policy, and supervision. She has worked on cause-driven social justice work in the federal government, higher education, and social sector. Rachael is also the founder of Social Workers Who Design, where they work with organizations worldwide to strengthen ethical, responsible, and trauma responsive design research practice. Read more on Rachael’s website (Social Workers Who Design).
Lucy Klippan
Lucy (she/her) is a professional image-maker, experienced in the use of design in response to complex problems in a range of areas, from crime prevention to health, to social justice and more. Lucy and KA have partnered to tell stories visually, create toolkits, interpret research outcomes into compelling visual products or translate complex information into accessible and visually appealing formats. Read more about Lucy and her business, Good Point Design.
Dr Emma Blomkamp
Emma (she/her) is a facilitator, researcher and strategic designer, best known for her work in co-design for public and social innovation. Emma and KA have worked together for many years - since working together at Innovate Change (now the Innovation Unit). You can hear more about that work and the evolution of co-design on this podcast. Or, visit Emma’s website.
Nina (she/her) is a textile designer and illustrator. Her work explores layers of motif, pattern shape and colour to create a range of bold and playful products that are locally made and designed. Nina works with KA to bring tools and communications alive and created the artwork for The Model of Care for Co-design and other products. Visit Nina’s website.
our recent work with NSW Health: All of Us
KA, Sue and Lucy worked with a Design Crew, Advisory Group, the Experience Team at NSW Health and hundreds of consumers, carers and staff members to develop NSW Health’s first guide to respectful consumer, carer and community engagement. Here’s how.
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The lands we work on are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. We Pay the Rent and support First Nations Futures. We acknowledge Ancestors and Elders past and present and the many traditions of design, creativity, collective care and innovation that have always been here.