TWCC's Cultural Education Program – Spearheading Cultural Competency

Join us for a transformative day of cultural learning and development. The Wetlands Centre Cockburn is proud to present the Cultural Education Program, a workshop designed to promote cultural competence in everyday practice. Led by a group of experienced educators, this program is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Aboriginal culture and develop skills for effective cross-cultural communication.

Event Information:

Date: April 28, 2023

Time: 9am - 3pm

Venue: The Wetlands Centre Cockburn

Registration Fees: $200

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

About this program:

Educators, Workers, and colleagues who are culturally competent respect multiple cultural ways of knowing, seeing and living, celebrate the benefits of diversity and have an ability to understand and honour differences. This is evident in everyday practice when colleagues demonstrate an ongoing commitment to developing their own cultural competence in a two-way process with families and communities.

Educators view culture and the context of family as central to children’s sense of being and belonging, and to success in lifelong learning. Educators also seek to promote children’s cultural competence.

Cultural competence is much more than awareness of cultural differences. It is the ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures. Cultural competence encompasses:

• being aware of one’s own world view
  
• developing positive attitudes towards cultural differences
  
• gaining knowledge of different cultural practices and world views
  
• developing skills for communication and interaction across cultures.

The Cultural Education Program (CEP) is a cultural competency workshop that is delivered to anyone invested in this space.

CEP has been developed by a group of educators on the basis of order, fracture and dispossession then healing. It is about cultural understanding and is a fundamental introduction to any further learning based on cultural experiences.

The mode of delivery is based on the Adult Learning Theory of experiential learning with books written by David Kolb. 

The Cultural Education Program supports educators in developing culturally competent respect for multiple cultural ways of knowing, seeing and living, celebrating the benefits of diversity and having an ability to understand and honour differences. 

Seeing this is evident in everyday practice when educators demonstrate an ongoing commitment to developing their own cultural competence in a two-way process with families and communities.

Our Facilitators:

Marie Taylor is an award-winning educator and cultural expert, having been awarded the prestigious NAIDOC Elder of the Year at the 2022 NAIDOC Perth Awards. With a career spanning both government and non-government sectors, Marie has contributed to a variety of heritage planning outcomes for the rivers, and produced programs that are now taught in schools across the city. She is currently Chairperson of Yelakitj Moort Nyungar Association Incorporated and Cultural Corridors Incorporated. In addition, Marie has served as an Elder in Residence at Holyoake and is currently the Elder in Residence at The Wetlands Centre at Walliabup Bibra Lake. Marie's passion for education led her to write a curriculum unit introducing Nyungar Language for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students at Murdoch University. To have Marie as a facilitator, with her extensive knowledge of Nyungar culture and language, in combination with her experience in developing innumerable curriculum units and educational programs, elevates this program to one that simply cannot be missed.

Robyn Collard is an experienced cultural educator, providing cultural safety advice from an Aboriginal perspective on a range of issues and building capacity with everyone she meets. A highly respected Indigenous elder from Perth, Robyn is also an accomplished Nyungar language teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Education and has worked in a variety of roles within the Government and Catholic education systems as a Teacher, Principal, Team Leader, and Education Consultant across the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Robyn has attended and presented at the World Indigenous Peoples Conference in Education (WIPCe) and represented Western Australia on the National Catholic Education Committee on Aboriginal Education for ten years. Her achievements as an accomplished Nyungar language teacher and her involvement in various committees and conferences demonstrate her commitment to promoting cultural competency and awareness.

Dylan Collard is an experienced educator with a passion for promoting cultural understanding and awareness. He has served as a cultural consultant and facilitator for various organizations and institutions across Australia, including schools, community centres, and government agencies. His extensive background in Indigenous education has helped him to develop innovative and engaging educational programs that promote intercultural communication and understanding. In addition to his work as an educator, Dylan has also served as a cultural advisor for various government and non-government organizations. He has helped to develop policies and initiatives that promote cultural safety, awareness, and respect within workplaces, educational institutions, and other public spaces. Dylan's expertise in cultural competency and education has made him a valuable contributor to numerous community initiatives and projects.

Acknowledgement of country

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we organise and facilitate this event, the Nyungar people, and pay our respects to their elders past, and present. We recognize the deep and ongoing connection of the Nyungar people to this land, its wetlands, and its ecosystems, which have sustained them for thousands of years. Here at The Wetlands Centre Cockburn, we recognize the importance of environmental stewardship and preserving the natural environment for future generations, as practised and taught by the Nyungar people for thousands of years.

In addition to the workshop, we invite you to explore the Wetlands Centre and learn about the unique and vital role wetlands play in our ecosystem. We hope you will join us for this enriching and inspiring learning opportunity.