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Cultural Capability Development 

Our tailored programs utilise Aboriginal thinking and cultural intelligence to build your cultural cababilities and leadership.  

Cultural Humility Training

Our first session is an introduction to Traditional Aboriginal cultures (before colonisation) uniquely exposing participants to over 120,000 plus years of cultural practice.

Learning

 

This session enables participants to gain an understanding and appreciation for First Nations people’s knowledge, wisdom, spiritual beliefs religious beliefs, diversity of tribal nations, kinship structures, cultural protocols and how these are still present in First Nations social responsibilities today.

 

Acceptance

 

This session also allows for a safe learning environment to be established for all participants for true learning to take place. We are very big on ensuring that all questions and discussions are welcomed no matter how uncomfortable they may be, but this can only take place if people feel safe and know they will not be judged.

 

Understanding

 

At the end of this session participants will have an understanding and appreciation of:

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  • Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country practices and their importance

  • Songlines and how they connect all First Nations countries together

  • Language groups

  • Kinship Structures and how kinship influences relationships

  • Cultural Ceremony and Rites of Passage

  • Cultural respectful ways to work with First Nations people

First Nations Truth Telling Education

The second session focuses on colonial history. From the First Fleet setting sail to the current political questions (ie. the Voice). This session is presented through a First Nations lens and utilises many historical documents to present this view. The stories that are explored come from first-hand historical accounts from early colonial figures, diary accounts and from historians.

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The session does cover some darker themes as the events that have taken place over the past 230+ years have not always been positive. This is why we spend plenty of time building safety and rapport in the first session. This presentation is extremely important in developing participant’s’ understanding of Australian history and deepens participant’s understanding of the First Nations people today. At the end of the session, participants will have an understanding and appreciation of:

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  • Early settlement in Australia and initial interactions

  • Frontier and Black wars

  • Massacres and treatment of First Nations people through this period

  • The protection era (Missions, Reserves, Stolen Generation and Religious Interaction)

  • Fight for Social Incision and Equity

  • National Apology

  • Makarrata

  • Constitutional Change

In Country Leadership Immersions

These sessions are specifically designed to immerse participants with an In Country experience connecting to the land and each other by:

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  • Experiencing a smoking ceremony

  • Participating in a Yarning Circle

  • Visiting important cultural values (sites) and learning their rich, deep and ongoing Stories

  • Discovering how to connect with Country

  • Understanding local history in the area (places, language, traditional lifestyles, contact and contemporary history)

  • Learning about leading with integrity, team unity, living responsibilities- all through Aboriginal perspectives

Cultural Governance Frameworks 

Markwell and Associates has a track record of supporting organisations to develop, design and deliver Cultural Governance Frameworks that embed First Nations ways of knowing, doing and being (cultural practice) into all that they do.

 

Our approach and model is premised on amplifying the voice of Country through an obligations and responsibilities framework. Ensuring culture is embodied through all aspects of leadership, decision-making and service delivery and design. 

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