Sharing Success Workshop, Penrith, NSW 19 & 20 April 2007
Penrith Participanats
In April, we held the first of our Sharing Success workshops in the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Muru Mittigar Aboriginal and Cultural Education Centre in Penrith.
The 30 attendees comprising staff, managers and Board members from 17 local Indigenous organisations heard Professor Mick Dodson open the workshop by identifying the key factors for success in any organisation.
'Leadership, leadership and leadership' he said was critical, 'and people need to have a commitment to leadership'.
The workshop then focused on governance for organisational excellence and how to achieve good governance through building strong leadership. Finalists from the IG Awards shared their stories of what works for them and how they got started on building healthy, robust organisations.
Facilitated by Jodie Ryan, a Gunditjmara woman, the workshop included small group discussions throughout the two days. Participants brainstormed the main leadership challenges and priorities they face across all levels of their organisations. They also discussed practical ideas and experiences about how to begin addressing the priorities and overcoming the challenges.
Special guests Stephen Cornell from the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development in the United States, and Neil Sterritt, a Gitxsan leader from British Columbia in Canada, related and compared some of their experiences, sharing their insights from the work they do with First Nations leaders in North America and Canada.
Participants were provided with a workbook containing information resources and practical diagnostic activities. The content of the workbook was drawn from an analysis of all the IG Award applications, as well as from the findings of the Indigenous Community Governance Research Project. Download a copy of the Workbook.
Feedback on the workshop was very positive with participants saying they gained 'lots of information from wonderful knowledgeable people', heard 'great ideas' and examined 'very useful case studies'. They also remarked on the importance of 'blackfellas talking to blackfellas about how to make things better for blackfellas'.
Reconciliation Australia and BHP Billiton thank the IG Awards finalists - Lesley Edwards from Muru Mittiagr, Joy Savage from WuChopperen Health and Hewitt Whyman from Gannambarra Enterprises - for sharing their success stories. We are also grateful to Muru Mittiagar, a finalist in the 2006 IG Awards, for hosting the workshop.
Download the Workshop Report including drawings and discussion outcomes.
Visit the Penrith photo gallery.