Overview

Effective engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples depends on humility, deep listening and a strong appreciation of cultural context.

Co-designed with First Nations stakeholders, this program provides practical ways to approach conversations with purpose, build trust through genuine listening and communicate in ways that resonate respectfully.

Participants are encouraged to learn about the specific cultural and language groups they work with and to align practice with local expectations.

Who should attend?

This course is ideal for leaders, HR professionals, project managers and anyone seeking the confidence and opportunity to improve how they interact with Aboriginal people, communities or stakeholders in culturally respectful and effective ways.

Content

• Understanding Cultural Context: Explore key ideas such as Country, kinship, community obligations and different worldviews, and reflect on how personal cultural lenses show up at work
• Listening and Communicating with Empathy: Practise culturally responsive listening, considered silence and turn-taking. Adapt tone, pace and phrasing to strengthen understanding before responding.
• Building Trust and Genuine Connection: Identify behaviours that build or erode trust and practise authentic, respectful conversation techniques aligned with established protocols for recognition, respect and consultation
• Applying Cultural Responsiveness in Real Contexts: Work through role-relevant cases in consultation, HR, project planning or service delivery to translate principles into day-to-day practice. Guidance draws on established protocols while encouraging learning about the specific cultural and language groups participants engage with.
• From Learning to Action: Define what genuine partnership looks like in action and commit to next steps that support respectful, ongoing engagement in the context of local practices.