‘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