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

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

Would you like to better understand the rich tapestry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's culture and history?

Would you like to develop your confidence and practice to provide effective support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples using your service?

Would you like to develop effective working relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues and community?

If yes, then moving beyond awareness to increased cultural capacity is key and this program will help you 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 and environment and consider how this program can benefit your team.

‘Beyond Awareness: Culturally Safe Practice in our Sector’ is a newly developed pilot program, formed from consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and designed by Leanne Levinge (Kombumerri and Ngugi descendant) from Big Hill & Oyster and co-facilitated with Rona Scherer (Mamu and Eastern Yalanji) from WorkUP Queensland, along a Torres Strait Islander community member.

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 a series of four 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.

History – Wednesday 10th April 2024
Communication – Wednesday 24th April 2024
Practice – Wednesday 8th May 2024
Relationships & Partnerships – Wednesday 22nd May 2024

This will be an engaging workshop series providing a blend of educational content, reflection activities and group discussions all developed and facilitated by First Nations facilitators. The addition of practical real word activities will help participants to bring their learning to life in their service throughout and beyond the program.

Your Commitment

This is a workshop series, please ensure availability for all four sessions, as each build on the knowledge and insights learnt from the previous workshops.

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, 10 April 2024
Workshop 2: Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Workshop 3: Wednesday, 8 May 2024
Workshop 4: Wednesday, 22 May 2024

Time: 9:00am - 12.30pm AEST (All sessions)
Location: Karstens Brisbane, Level 24/215 Adelaide St, Brisbane City QLD 4000

Please note: This is a 4 part series. Participants should attend all sessions.

Non-target registrations will not be accepted for this workshop series.

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 Justice and Attorney-General 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

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.