Indigenous Excellence: Billabongs not Silos - Mildura Symposium

Billabongs Not Silos – Yarning Symposium (Mildura)

Date: Friday 1 May 2026
Time: 9:00am – 1:30pm (lunch provided)
Location: La Trobe University, Mildura Regional Campus
Cost: Free
Audience: First Nations community, education and health professionals and partners

About the Event

The Billabongs Not Silos Morning Yarning Symposium is a half‑day regional event bringing together First Nations leaders, practitioners and organisations to share knowledge, lived experience and strengths‑based practice at the intersection of education and health.

Hosted at La Trobe University’s Mildura Campus, the symposium creates a culturally safe space for meaningful dialogue, connection and cross‑sector collaboration through guest presentations, yarning circles and shared learning.

Program overview

• 9:00am – Smoking Ceremony and Welcome

• 10:00am – Opening remarks and keynote presentations
  (Three guest speakers, 10–15 minutes each)

• 11:15am – Morning break

• 11:30am – Yarning circles
  (Small group discussions facilitated by speakers)

• 11:50am – Group rotation
  (Opportunity to yarn with different speakers and participants)

• 12:30pm – Final reflections and shared lunch

• 1:30pm – Close

Lunch will be provided following the symposium.

Guest Speakers

Dennis Mitchell is a Narranga‑Kaurna man and the Acting Principal of Merbein P-10 College as well as an Adjunct Professor with the School of Education at La Trobe University. Formerly the Principal of Ranfurly Primary School, Dennis brings extensive leadership experience across primary and secondary education settings. He also mc called Your Country that uses GPS technology to connect users with the traditional custodians of the land, displaying publicly available information about the First Peoples’ Country they are standing on.

Crystal Kirby is the Clinical Coordinator Health at Mallee District Aboriginal Services. Crystal is a Registered Nurse and has held previous roles as a District Nurse, Allied Health Coordinator and Chronic Disease Coordinator. She has worked in numerous roles, all within her community in Mildura, Robinvale and Coomealla. Through her work at MDAS, Crystal says " I strive to continue my work in increasing access to services and quality care and to advocate, on all levels, to improve the health of our mob.”

Additional guest speakers to be announced.

About Billabongs Not Silos

Billabongs Not Silos is a collaborative initiative between the La Trobe Rural Health School and the School of Education, working in partnership with First Nations organisations, community leaders, schools and health providers.

The program aims to:

• Promote health, education and wellbeing for First Nations children and young people

• Share strengths‑based practice and empower communities

• Amplify Indigenous leadership and excellence in education and health

• Strengthen partnerships across regional campuses, including Mildura

What to Expect

Participants can expect:

• Presentations from First Nations leaders and practitioners

• Yarning circles that support shared learning, reflection and connection

• Case studies highlighting Indigenous‑led models of practice

• Opportunities to build relationships across health, education and community sectors