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22/05/2024Leadership for Complex Times – the Leadership Victoria Approach
24/06/2024
This National Reconciliation Week, the theme is “Now More Than Ever”, an urge to learn and reflect on the call on all Australians to empower everyone to move forward towards Truth and Reconciliation. Leadership Victoria's work to cultivate leadership, and to do this in the spirit and act of Reconciliation is important to us and the Leadership Victoria Community. This NRW we want to share how we are currently working and committing to build relationships, cultivate opportunities and foster experiences to walk side by side with First Nations Peoples towards Reconciliation.
Engaging with First Nations Peoples' Perspectives, Knowledge and Voices
Anthony Cavanagh (WCLP '15) delivering a Welcome to Country at the Williamson Community Leadership Program Welcome Immersive 2024 on Taungurung Country
As part of the design and development of our programs, we are deeply committed to engaging with First Nations Peoples through partnerships and relationships. Through this collaborative practice we aim to culturally enrich our programs and foster meaningful dialogue on how leaders can contribute to community, culture and Country.
Prior to beginning the Williamson Community Leadership Program participants can undertake training through Arilla, a platform established by Djirribul woman, Shelley Reys AO to begin their cultural competency process. During the 2024 WCLP Welcome Immersive in February, participants had a workshop with Bundyi Girri Consulting. Delving into the significance of Acknowledgement of Country as a way to center First Nations Sovereignty. The participants connected their personal motivations to their acknowledgments, developing authentic outcomes that respect and acknowledge sovereignty at home, in the workplace and in community.
This experience aimed to equip non-Indigenous leaders to engage in nuanced conversations that consider intersectional identities, enhancing everyone's understanding of their roles in advancing Reconciliation.
On 5 April, 2024, LV hosted 14 year 11 First Nations leaders from the Ganbina Youth Leadership Program, a program dedicated to investing in the next generation of First Nations leaders and encouraging youth to learn and engage in leadership in the community. Ganbina is led by 2015 Williamson Fellow, Anthony Cavanagh.
During the visit, 2023 Williamson Fellows Tish Tambakau, Hisney Nowfal and Ariana Kurzeme shared their own stories and insights on leadership. Some of the key takeaways for the young leaders were:
💡 You don’t have to know everything to lead, and it’s more important to act.
💡 People will be inspired to follow your vision when they see you lead with action.
💡 Leadership doesn’t have an end, it’s a lifelong journey.
During the WCLP 2024 Greater Shepparton Regional Immersive in May, we had the opportunity to further engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations including speaker sessions with Yorta Yorta woman and First People's Assembly of Victoria Representative Leanne Miller AO and Yorta Yorta and legendary community leader Elder Uncle Paul Briggs and an interactive presentation and tour of the Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative with Uncle Lance James and Auntie Cheryl Bourke.
The Cooperative is a cornerstone of the Greater Shepparton region, and they describe themselves as "committed to providing a culturally safe and respectful healing place where our community can gather and access the care and support they need – and feel a strong sense of support, nurture, connection, strength and belonging from having been here." We are thankful for these relationships that provide a deep and meaningful experience to the WCLP participants and we look forward to continued partnerships in coming years.
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leaders through Scholarships
Scholarships provide life-changing opportunities to emerging and established leaders from marginalised communities, who may not otherwise be able to access personal and professional development programs. One special type of scholarship was set up six years ago by a group of 2018 Williamson Community Leadership Program (WCLP) Fellows, who formed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship Advisory Committee, committed to funding and promoting participation in the WCLP and other LV programs by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders. The efforts of these committed WCLP ‘18 leaders has ensured strong participation by First Nations leaders in the WCLP in recent years. Their efforts also catalysed the contribution of an annual scholarship by the Eastern Health Foundation as part of their RAP commitments, supporting an additional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leader to undertake the WCLP. You can read more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarships and the impact here.
Prior to LV, I never wanted to take on an executive role in a board or a committee. I was happy to be non-executive. I’ve learned that it’s not about being that orator and having a great speech, it’s about how you need to corral people...to bring them along, to have them take ownership of any adaptive challenges as well.
Recent Scholarship Recipients
Jacqueline Watkins
2021 Williamson Fellow
First Nations Engagement Lead,
Consumer Action Law Centre
Matthew Everitt
2021 Williamson Fellow
Founder,
Dreamtime Art Creative Consultancy
Leigh Saunders
2023 Williamson Fellow
Co-CEO,
Aborigines Advancement League
Joe Murfet
2023 Williamson Fellow
Manager - Aboriginal Partnerships and Engagement,
Victorian Govt Department of Transport
Isobel Morphy-Walsh
2024 Williamson Participant
Healing Foundation Youth Advisory Group Member
WCLP '23 Cohort at a self-organised event to the Aborigines Advancement League. Photo source: Debbie Shiell (WCLP '23)
Scholarships for LV programs create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to build their leadership capability, and position them to access and influence LV’s wide, trusted network of leaders, organisations, stakeholders and communities. Scholarships also create benefits far beyond the individual leader - as each scholarship recipient deeply considers and transforms their own leadership impact, their experiences enrich the program for all participants. We are very grateful to everyone who contributes tax-deductible donations to scholarship funds.
The Story of the Bla(c)k Socks
Laura Thompson (WCLP '18) sharing the story of the LV socks at the 2024 WCLP Welcome Event.
2023 Valedictorians Kevin Kapeke and Charlie McMullin being presented with the LV socks at the 2024 WCLP Welcome Event.
The Leadership Victoria socks are the creative product of Gunditjmara woman Laura Thompson, a 2018 alumni of Leadership Victoria's Williamson Leadership Program and co-founder of Clothing The Gap. Laura says of the socks:
"The socks are a special reminder that we are all part of the fabric - celebrating Indigenous people and culture through fashion. The pattern on the socks has no beginning and end, much like the leadership journey we are all on. The design shows the connectedness and interconnection of people and Communities working towards a more inclusive, healthier happier and harmonious Australia. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on the toes are the first thing you see at the beginning of the day and the last thing you see when you take off your shoes in the evening. They alow us all to walk on and share a connection to country. They are a loving reminder of the 60 000 years plus of Aboriginal history, culture and knowledge in Australia."
The socks are used to thank guest contributors in all Leadership Victoria programs, and have started a movement (!) of themselves, by bringing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence into every space in which Leadership Victoria works. The socks also symbolise the contribution of our Alumni to Leadership Victoria and the continuous sharing of knowledge, learning and contribution that inspires us to be the best organisation we can be.
National Reconciliation Week Resources and Events
There are many ways to get involved in National Reconciliation Week. Every year workplaces, schools, early learning services, community groups, reconciliation groups, and people right across the country host a whole range of activities and events to assist in learning about our shared history, culture and how we can collectively work towards Reconciliation.
Click below to access some more information.
