‘Yarning Circles: Engaging and Facilitating with Aboriginal Communities’ with Carol Vale, Anthony Cavanagh and Kate Kelleher | Monday July 14, 2014 | 5.30pm

In this session we are privileged to have three guest facilitators, who are recent graduates from the MURRA Indigenous Master Business Class Program run by the Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne. Our facilitators have experience working across the business, government/NGO and community sectors.  They will use a yarning circle (ORID) questioning framework to discuss and engage us in discussing some of the challenges of engaging and facilitating with Aboriginal communities: -          Learning the cultural protocols -          Understanding the complexities and diversity when working with communities -          Dealing with the fear of making mistakes or offending This event is held during NAIDOC week during which celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. http://www.naidoc.org.au About our Guest Facilitators Carol Vale is a Dunghutti/Gumbaingirr woman from northern NSW. Her professional and personal experiences of growing up on an Aboriginal mission, where she maintains a strong connection to country coupled with her experiences as a senior officer in the Queensland and NSW governments and having to ‘walk between the two worlds’, brings immense knowledge from which to draw on. Carol has a deep understanding of issues underpinning Indigenous disadvantage and has been at the interface of working across the complexities of government policy development and community engagement for decades. Carol brings together practical techniques of facilitation and merges these with Aboriginal cultural metaphors, experiences and symbolism to assist those she works as a facilitator. Anthony Cavanagh is a Taungurung man who holds a Diploma of Business and qualifications in Quality Management, Risk Management, Workplace Safety and Environmental Management. He joined Ganbina in 2013 as the CEO.  Anthony’s career spans over 30 years in the private and government sectors. He has extensive experience in the recruitment, training and community services sectors which is particularly valuable to him in his role as CEO. Before joining Ganbina, he held senior management roles with the Chandler Macleod Group and Worktrainers. Earlier in his career, he worked with Human Services Victoria in residential care facilities for disadvantaged and displaced children and young people. Anthony has served on various Boards including as Chair of Mitchell Indigenous Education Group and as a member of the Mitchell Community Health Service and the Meadows Youth Foundation. Kate Kelleher is a proud Palawa Trowerna woman originating from the Cape Portland (Trawlwoolway) Tribe, Pyemairrenner Nation, in north Eastern Tasmania. Kate had a long standing career in the public sector, working up through the ranks to serve as a Regional Manager in Australia’s social security system for six years in two states. With twelve years as a practitioner in the International Education Export Industry Kate interfaced with Overseas students and stakeholders across various world regions on and off-shore, travelling extensively in the Asia-Pacific region.  In 2011 Kate also had the unique opportunity to act as Interim CEO for the National peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (NACCHO).  Through these experiences Kate demonstrates a unique ability to relate to people in all walks of life. After being made redundant at 51 years of age Kate launched her entity – KC Consultancy Services in 2010 as a sole trader. Beginning as a professional freelance Kate re-discovered her passion for facilitation which is where she now wants to build her own brand.  Kate comes with facilitation experience at all levels and across a number of different sectors.  She is looking forward to learning more and interacting with the Australasian Facilitators’ Network. ======================================================= Venue:  [Our usual venue] University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up

'The Wisdom Of Not Knowing' with Donald Marmara | Monday June 16, 2014 | 5.30pm

How Can Not Knowing Make Me A Better Facilitator?

An experiential, interactive and playful workshop for facilitators

Enhance your facilitation skills by learning to let go of all theories, knowledge and expectations so you can perceive more accurately and apply your skills more effectively.

“Not knowing” is not the same as ignorance.

Whilst knowledge and understanding is of course essential for effective facilitation, it can sometimes interfere with our ability to perceive accurately.

In this workshop we will explore how we can develop – or recover – the ability to set aside our knowledge so we can perceive innocently, through the eyes of a child.

As the Zen Master who said to his student that he can only learn from him when he has “emptied his cup”, we will discover what happens when we are willing to observe without interpreting.

This will clarify our bias and enable us to connect more authentically, and to apply our knowledge more effectively.

About the Guest Facilitator: Donald Marmara

Donald Marmara’s 35 years’ international experience has seen him run seminars for health centres, organisations and training institutions throughout the UK, Europe and Australia.

As well as studying Developmental Psychology and training for several years with leading pioneers of Somatic (Body) Psychotherapy & Human Potential Development in Europe & America, Donald served an 8-year apprenticeship with a Native American Medicine Man.

Donald has a particular interest in experiential learning, emotional education and body awareness, and integrating mind, body, emotions and spirit.

He is the creator of Core Development and currently maintains a private practice in Therapy, Personal Development and Emotional Education in Sydney.

You can call Donald on 02 9413 9794 or 0412 178 234, email donald@coredevelopment.com.au, web: www.coredevelopment.com.au

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Venue:  [Our usual venue]

University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.

Time:

From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up

Blog www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com

Enquiries | Greg Jenkins greg@tincanlearning.com | 0418 486 501 or Sharon McGann  0414 537 305 sharon@apassion.com.au