‘If you really want to understand who we are as a nation today, you really need to understand the full story – and that can be all the great achievements of our history, but to also understand that the Aboriginal story has always been woven through that history as well.’
Rob Hyatt, Manager, Cultural Experiences, Koorie Heritage Trust
Begin your journey towards creating a workplace that embraces mutual respect, shared understanding, and enriching experiences.
We offer a face-to-face Full or Half-Day Program, and an online Half-Day Program. All are aimed at people with limited or no training in Aboriginal Cultural Competency and awareness.
The ability to understand, appreciate and communicate well with people across cultures is at the core of having meaningful and enriching interactions – and our programs enhance respect and help forge strong relationships with Aboriginal people and their cultures in both professional and personal contexts.
The Building Aboriginal Cultural Competency program is for anyone seeking stronger connections and information regarding Victoria’s Aboriginal people and culture. Practical and welcoming, our Full-Day Program is designed for workplaces with employees who may not have had any previous training or experience with Aboriginal people and communities, but who want to have better understanding and engagement.
The program is well-suited to organisations with Reconciliation Action Plans – it fosters Aboriginal cultural awareness in a practical way so that employees may build stronger, respectful, and well-informed relationships with Aboriginal people.
Because there is much complexity around Aboriginal history and the impact of colonisation on contemporary Aboriginal people and communities, the Full-Day Program is tailored to organisations that are serious about raising the Cultural Competency of staff working with and delivering services to Aboriginal people.
However, as organisational demands may not enable staff to attend for a full day, the Half-Day Program offers a condensed version. It is suited to participants who may not have regular contact with Aboriginal people and communities, but who are interested in building their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal issues from an Aboriginal perspective.
‘Thanks again for your time and truly valuable & impactful workshop yesterday. We are so lucky to have your advice, lived experience and generosity to share such difficult and traumatic content. The identity example you led – will stay heavy in my heart forever. You generously offer your time and experiences with such strength and dedication to education.’
Pru Burns | Coaching Co-Ordinator & Video Producer, Video and Media Learning Environments, Student and Scholarly Services, The University of Melbourne
When there is a cultural gap, connections can be difficult. Therefore, much of the work done in this program is about putting Aboriginal Victoria on the map: rather than seeing Aboriginal people as one large homogenous group, the Cultural Competency program offers real understanding of the diversity involved in Victoria.
Topics covered include:
‘Cultural information gets passed down from generation to generation. The program covers who Aboriginal people are, understanding the history of Australia from an Aboriginal perspective, and what has impacted on Aboriginal people, to then give us an understanding of Aboriginal people today.’ Rob Hyatt
Participants and Bookings
So that participants can gain the maximum benefit and engage with the facilitator, we require a minimum of 10 people per group, capped at 25.
Venue and Dates
Training is best conducted onsite at KHT, offering immersion in a culturally rich environment, within an Aboriginal organisation employing Aboriginal staff. Program dates are negotiated case-by-case. You may nominate your own venue: this means you must manage the venue booking and take responsibility for ensuring all necessary costs are met, and IT facilities and support provided.
Materials
These include PowerPoint handouts and other resources, provided beforehand via email.
Facilitators and Expectations
Aboriginal facilitators deliver our programs, offering their personal stories and experiences within the context of the teachings. They have extensive work and community services history, and experience in a range of private, business, community, and government positions.
Our facilitators have a demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal Cultural Competency and create a safe, trusting, and friendly environment to allow participants to share information and ask questions in a comfortable atmosphere and safe space.
The programs include appropriate practical examples, high-level responses to participant questions, and awareness of the challenges within a complex, client-focussed environment.
Program Cost
Full-Day
Recommended group size between 10 and 25.
$3,800 + GST (Flat rate).
Duration: Seven hours (including morning and afternoon tea, and lunch breaks).
Half-Day (face-to-face or online)
Recommended group size between 10 and 25.
$2,500 + GST (Flat rate).
Duration: Four hours (face-to-face and online), inclusive of breaks.
Contact
For further information, please contact:
Tim Stares, Education Coordinator
03 8662 6300 [email protected]
Terminology
While the term Koorie is commonly used to describe Aboriginal people of South-East Australia, we have used the term Aboriginal in this brochure to include all people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) descent who are living in Victoria. We recognise the diversity of Aboriginal people living throughout Victoria including Koories and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from around Australia.