‘Beyond Awareness: Culturally Safe Practice in our Sector’ is a unique opportunity for the workforce of domestic and family violence, women’s health and wellbeing and sexual violence sector.

This is a series of two full day workshops where participants will deepen their knowledge and understanding enhancing their practice in working with and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Unpack how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, cultures, histories, stories, traditions, and wisdoms that have been shaped by the impacts of colonisation and what it means for your day to day best practice.

Strengthen your confidence and refine your approach to provide meaningful culturally responsive support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who engage with your service.

Foster genuine and collaborative relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to positive outcomes

Moving beyond cultural awareness to embed authentic cultural safety in day to day practice is key and this program will help you to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to begin to do so as well as contribute to healing for the people we work with and our collective healing.

Now is a great time to reflect on the cultural capability across your workforce, day to day practice and environment.

‘Beyond Awareness: Culturally Safe Practice in our Sector’ is a newly developed program, developed with input from consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and designed by Leanne Levinge (Kombumerri and Ngugi descendant) from Big Hill & Oyster and Rona Scherer (Mamu and Eastern Yalanji) from WorkUP Queensland who will deliver the program, accompanied by Bowie Solutions, providing perspectives of Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Cultures.

Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback about the series, content and structure to help us to continuously improve the program for rollout in other locations.

Program Structure

The program consists of two full -day workshops, which are linked and offer practical and reflective activities to support ongoing learning over the duration of the series. It is important for participants to attend all four workshops.

1. Wednesday 4th June 2025

Using History for a Better Future

Communicating in Truthtelling Ways that Empower

2. Wednesday 11th June 2025

Working in Culturally Safe Ways

Building Relationships with the Community

This will be an engaging workshop series providing a blend of educational content, self-reflective activities and robust group discussions facilitated by First Nations facilitators. The addition of practical real world activities will help participants to bring their learnings to life throughout and beyond the program.

Your Commitment

This is a workshop series, please ensure availability for both full days, as each day builds on the knowledge and insights learnt from the previous workshop.

What you will get out of this program:

Insight into the effects of colonisation, oppression, marginalisation, and racism.

Enhanced appreciation of your cultural perspective and its impact on your sector work.

Strategies for alternative and innovative engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Valuable lessons from sector peers, individuals with lived experience, and service users.

Confidence for critical self-reflection on challenging or uncomfortable issues.

Strengthened community connections and cross-sector networking.

A concrete action plan for both personal and collective follow-up initiatives.

An actionable understanding of cultural awareness, competency, capability, and safety

Event details

Workshop 1: Wednesday, 4th June 2025
Workshop 2: Wednesday, 11th June 2025

Time: 9:00am - 4:30pm AEST (both sessions)
Location: Mt Isa Family Support Service & Neighbourhood Centre, 72 Marian Street, Pioneer, QLD, 4825.

Please note: This is a 2 part series. Participants should attend both sessions.

Travel support is available* – click here to apply. If you are unable to download the application form please email workforce@healingfoundation.org.au to receive a copy. *Target Group Services Only

Who should attend

Workforce of specialist domestic and family violence, sexual assault or women’s health services funded by the Office for Women's Safety and Violence Prevention, Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety located in Brisbane, Moreton, Ipswich and Gold Coast.

About the facilitators

Leanne Levine

Leanne Levinge is a Ngugi (Moreton Island) and Kombumerri (Gold Coast) descendant on her Dad’s side and non-Indigenous Australian on her mum’s side. She lives on Turrbal and Yugara/Yuggera Country in Meanjin (Brisbane) with her two sons. Leanne is a narrative therapist / counsellor, coach, mentor, facilitator, and consultant with experience working in a range of contexts and with a range of individuals, groups and communities. Leanne spent 20 years in management and leadership roles in the higher education sector (eventually in the role of Director of Faculty Services, QUT Business School) before a COVID-related career change in early 2020 led her to narrative therapy, counselling and coaching. Along with running her own small practice, she is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Triple A Murri Country. Leanne's academic history is like a patchwork possum-skin cloak. She has degrees in journalism; librarianship; leadership through coaching and mentoring; and narrative therapy and community work. She says the thread that ties them together is curiosity and the art of a good question.

Rona Scherer is a MaMu & Kuku Yalanji woman from Far North Queensland, living on Gubbi Gubbi country, bringing considerable experience in sector development across the community sector in various capacities.

Recently, Rona’s work has focused on supporting services across Queensland to provide culturally safe and inclusive spaces and practice, and to work well with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Rona is a skilled group facilitator and trainer and has extensive experience in the design, development, and delivery of training programs.

Currently Rona leads projects of WorkUP Queensland, including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mentoring program, a community of practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service providers, and a collaborative grants program.