Leading from the front and the ground up: Cultural change in CHSP services – Connecting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Elders (18 February 2025)

The Statement of Rights coming in the new Aged Care Act enshrines the right for older people to receive aged care services that are culturally safe, culturally appropriate, trauma-aware and healing-informed; and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a right to opportunities and assistance to stay connected to their community, Country and Island Home.

Developing key themes from our first forum session, session two focuses on the challenge of building momentum for cultural change across your organisation, asking:
• What are you doing to bring people on board and to foster shared responsibility for cultural safety?
• How do you value time and relational practice (the deep listening at the heart of cultural safety), when viability and transactional economy are so dominant?

Keynote speakers Danielle Ballantine, CEO at Your Side and Bradlee Commins, BC Consulting will offer perspectives from senior leadership and Indigenous leadership. Brad has been consulting and building cultural competence across corporate and nonprofit organisations for 15+ years. Prior to this, Brad was previously employed as National Indigenous Manager, and Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Group at disability organisation, breakthru. Brad worked across the organisation to influence non-Aboriginal people, systems and tools to build cultural awareness and competency. Brad and Danielle worked together at breakthru to build the organisation’s cultural capability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce, profile in community, and to support more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with lasting impact. Danielle is now adapting strategies learned from Brad’s insights and experience to build cultural competence at Your Side.

This forum is open to all CHSP executive leaders and board members, regardless of size of your organisation or stage in this ongoing journey building cultural safety. There will be facilitated discussion as a large group and breakout sessions for sharing in smaller groups.

This is an opportunity to:

• Learn from other providers’ experience and why organisational leadership is critical to success
• Reflect on progress and next steps for your service
• Contribute to conversations about an aged care sector that not only meets requirements but strives for the right to cultural connection, safety and healing
• Be inspired and encouraged by a national community of leaders

SPEAKERS

• Bradlee Commins
  

Bradlee, an Aboriginal man connected to the Barrungam people of Southwest Queensland and the Gamilaroi people of Northwest New South Wales, brings a unique perspective shaped by a diverse and accomplished background. 
With a 14-year sporting career spanning seven countries, Bradlee transitioned to the corporate and NFP space, where he has become a sought-after facilitator of Cultural Training and Workshops across Australia. His clients have included Westpac, Commonwealth and State Government departments, QANTAS, Your Side and so on. His expertise comes from a combination of academic achievement, obtaining three university degrees, and over 20 years of deeply learned Aboriginal cultural knowledge. 
As a trainer and consultant, Bradlee's approach blends education, cultural insight, humour, and practical tools that fosters understanding, addresses behaviour’s, and identifies areas for meaningful change. His work empowers individuals and organisations to create more inclusive and culturally aware environments.

• Danielle Ballantine
  

Danielle Ballantine is the CEO of Your Side, aged care provider. Prior to joining Your Side, Danielle’s career has spanned aged care, disability support, employment, vocational training, Aboriginal services/education, and mental health.
Her deep personal interest for Aboriginal cultures resulted in her to becoming one of the first graduates with a major in Aboriginal Studies at Macquarie University. Guided by the teachings of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal lecturers, she gained a meaningful understanding of culture and history. Danielle later brought her expertise to TAFE, teaching Diploma-level Aboriginal Studies, particularly to incarcerated students. In this role, she focused on Australian history and helped Aboriginal students reconnect with culture, and fostering self-determination.
Danielle’s leadership extends to co-facilitating cultural awareness training and sponsoring the creation of an Aboriginal-led advisory body within a human services organisation. This initiative significantly increased its Aboriginal identified workforce that propelled the organisation to become the nation’s top performer in providing supports to Aboriginal peoples across a number of government funded programs.

When: Tuesday 18 February 2025 - 12:00noon to 1:30 pm AEDT
Format: Online via Zoom (joining link will be sent closer to the date)
Audience: CHSP executive leaders and board members 
Free to attend

For further information please email 
sectorsupport@yourside.org.au or sectordevelopment@socialfutures.org.au

This Sector Support and Development event is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. The views expressed may not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Health and Aged Care.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the various lands on which we live and work; and we pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their cultures and to Elders past and present.