WORKSHOPS
Monday 26th September, 2011
Thursday 29th September, 2011

Effective service delivery is crucial to 'Closing the Gap' in Indigenous life outcomes. The Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place is an organisation dedicated to delivering innovative programs to the local Indigenous community. The organisation has been successful through its innovative approach to service delivery; essentially a 'gathering' together of health and other services in partnership with numerous mainstream organisations.

This unique and highly practical workshop will provide you with the information, inspiration and motivation required to utilise the Gathering Place's proven techniques to improve your own linkages.

By attending, you will learn:

• About the Gathering Place – How one woman's vision has materialised in 8 years from 1 worker to 43 professional staff
• About the Gathering Place's method of service delivery – the gathering together of mainstream and Indigenous service delivery, and utilising best practice and merit employment principles (i.e best person for the job, irrespective of race)
• An exploration of the Gathering Place's Healing Program and how it has improved health and justice outcomes for Indigenous people in the West of Melbourne
• The legacy of activist William Cooper and how it has inspired the work of the Gathering Place.

About your workshop leaders:

Colleen Marion
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place
Association, VIC

Colleen is a Bidjara woman from Augathella in south west Queensland

Liz Hill
Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place Association, VIC
Liz is a Bardi woman from the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Abe Schwarz
Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place Association, VIC

Corinne Seibel
Chief Executive Officer
Westgate General Practice Network

Nihal Samara
General Counsel and Legal Director
Kaizen Synergy

Coming from interstate or outside of Cairns? Don't miss out on the chance to meet some of Cairns' most effective service providers in this one-off site tour!

PART A – Tjapukai Cultural Park

Tjapukai is Australia's oldest Indigenous cultural park and much of its success can be attributed to employing people from the local community. In this component you will be taken on a tour of the park and hear a special talk from the manager.

You will be accompanied by:
Carrie Aird
Guide
Tjapukai Cultural Park

 

Special talk from:
Christopher Richardson
Operations Manager
Tjapukai Cultural Park

 

PART B – Wuchopperen Health Service

Wuchopperen provides health services to Indigenous people throughout far north Queensland. This organisation has been successful due to its strong community focus and consumer engagement. In this component, Wuchopperen staff will lead you on a tour of the facilities and give you an opportunity to ask them questions about their work.

You will be accompanied by:
Senior Representative
Wuchopperen Health Service

PART C – Mookai Rosie Bi Bayan

Mookai Rosie Bi Bayan is an Indigenous organisation that specialises in women and child maternal health care. The service prides itself on being culturally sensitive and working with communities to achieve better health outcomes. In this component, staff will take you on a walk through the facilities and you will also hear a talk from the Chief Executive Officer and Health Manager.

You will be accompanied by:
Lillian Simpson
Chief Executive Officer
Mookai Rosie Bi Bayan