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Aboriginal Cultural Training Services

Empowering Minds,

Honouring Culture,

Creating Change.

We blend traditional Aboriginal wisdom with neuroscience, emotional and cultural intelligence, helping organisations foster sustainable change that honours cultural integrity and respects the diverse perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our training programs transform understanding into meaningful action, equipping participants with the tools and skills needed to make a tangible impact on reconciliation and cultural competency within their organisations.

Our training is flexible, engaging, and tailored to the needs of each organisation. Whether you are just beginning your cultural competency journey or seeking to deepen your understanding, our programs are designed to be transformative for all participants.

Overview

How Aboriginal cultural awareness and capability training can benefit your business

In today’s marketplace, having a culturally aware and capable workforce has become a pre-requisite for effective workforce engagement and can provide numerous benefits to your business. Some of these benefits include:

Transformative Learning

Gain deep insights into Aboriginal cultures, histories, and contemporary perspectives, empowering participants to navigate cultural complexities with empathy.

Neuroscience-Backed Techniques

Our programs integrate neuroscience to help participants reframe unconscious biases and cultivate inclusive mindsets.

Sustainable Impact

Training that creates lasting change – building cultural capability that positively influences both individual behaviours and organisational culture.

Case Studies
“Not only do YarnnUp provide logistical support, but they also provide cultural and awareness training which is an essential part to moving through on both a business and individual level.”

Kristy Montgomery,

Philips Australia
“I would encourage any organisation to work with YarnnUp. The way they blend Aboriginal culture and Western concepts and put them together helps everyone in what they do and how they engage cross culturally.”

Kathy Edwards,

Limestone Coast Local Health Network
“YarnnUp have a brilliant approach. It is a holistic one that considers our needs as an organisation, as well as our broader social commitments.”

Ben Hatton,

NSW Land Registry Services

Impact

Driving Real Change

Our programs inspire participants to deepen their cultural competence and take meaningful actions towards reconciliation and inclusion.

Increased Cultural Competence

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of First Nations cultures and practices, ready to apply this knowledge in their professional and personal lives.

Practical Tools for Change

Gain actionable strategies to build stronger, more inclusive workplaces that honour First Nations contributions.

Commitment to Reconciliation

Develop a greater commitment to meaningful reconciliation, taking steps that lead to tangible impact.

Enhanced Employee Engagement

Build an inclusive culture that encourages employee engagement and retention, fostering a sense of belonging.

Improved Stakeholder Relationships

Strengthen relationships with First Nations communities and stakeholders by demonstrating genuine respect and understanding.

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Making waves together

From iconic global brands to local governments, our clients share our vision of driving impactful change.

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Learning Outcomes

Essential themes and elements of YarnnUp’s Aboriginal Cultural Awareness and Capability Workshops include:

Reframing Thoughts & Behaviours

How we can reframe inherited thoughts and behaviours shaped by genetic and environmental conditioning.

Cultural Protocols

The importance of cultural protocols like Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country.

Family & Community Values

The commitment to family and community held by First Nations peoples.

Cultural Diversity

The diversity of First Nations cultures, languages, and their unique relationship with land and water.

Historical Impact

The impact of history and colonisation on First Nations peoples.

Unconscious Patterns

The subconscious patterns and assumptions that influence our thoughts and actions.

Cultural Self-Awareness

Identify your own cultural values and practices, and their influence on interactions.

Sensitivity to History & Racism

The impact of history and racism on contemporary First Nations cultures.

Influence of Perspectives

The influence of personal and social perspectives on your understanding of First Nations history.

Behavioural Control & Connection

Enhance impulse control, communication, and relationship management through our action plan for building new habits.

Overcoming Bias

Capability to overcome personal prejudices to foster cultural connection.

Culturally Sensitive Communication

Culturally sensitive behaviours for effective communication with First Nations communities.

Empathy Through Understanding

Empathy towards culturally diverse people by understanding their history and experiences.

Programs

Programs Tailored for Impact

Our programs are crafted to meet participants wherever they are on their cultural competency journey, ensuring every step forward is impactful and empowering:

90 minutes (face to face or online)

An overview of culture and key events that shaped Aboriginality today and the impact it has had. This is accompanied by strategies to begin positive interaction and engagement with First Nations colleagues, customers and organisations through awareness and competency.

An interactive and engaging approach that focuses on the key areas for building First Nations cultural awareness. The training ensures participants have the cultural knowledge necessary to navigate interactions effectively with First Nations peoples and communities by understanding the cultural values and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

An in-depth training session that immerses participants and builds their First Nations cultural awareness and capability through elements of cultural and emotional intelligence with neuroscience principles sprinkled throughout the program. Through the presentation of active scenarios and practical skill development techniques, participants walk away with the confidence to engage, communicate and build authentic relationships with First Nations colleagues, customers and organisations.

A two-day intensive that involves one day of cultural awareness training that considers historical and contemporary influences that have shaped First Nations peoples and cultures, and a second day of workshop style professional development that builds the cultural capability of participants through skills and strategies that blend Aboriginal wisdom, neuroscience and western academia. This program includes tailored scenarios, role plays and emotionally engaging activities to ensure a sub-conscious shift in mindset and perspective Participants walk away with a detailed step by step action plan to continue developing their cultural capability.

Day 1, is a full day On-Country experience in an area of local significance depending on the state where the training is being delivered. This full day is culturally immersive, where participants engage with Traditional Custodians undertaking cultural practices and protocols to understand the sophistication and uniqueness of First Nations cultures.  In Day 2 we build on the emotional connection acquired from Day 1 to enact a sub-conscious shift in perspective and develop the cross cultural skillset of participants to communicate and build effective relationships interculturally. Throughout Day 2 we blend elements of cultural and emotional intelligence with mind science principles which enable greater self awareness, self management, social awareness and relationship management. Participants walk away with an evidence based action plan to continue their cultural capability development.

Unlock your Business's Potential

YarnnUp has a proven track record of delivering effective cultural awareness and capability training to companies of all sizes and industries. Our team consists of experienced trainers who are knowledgeable, approachable, charismatic and committed to helping your employees learn and grow.

YarnnUp has developed a proven evidence-based approach to improving intercultural competence among teams and individuals. By taking our cultural awareness training, your team will be better equipped to navigate cultural differences and build stronger, more successful relationships with diverse clients and partners. Don’t miss out on the benefits of our Aboriginal cultural awareness and capability training – contact us today.

FAQs
What is the difference between YarnnUp’s Aboriginal cultural awareness training and its Aboriginal cultural capability training?

Cultural awareness refers to the presentation of cultural knowledge, practices and protocols which can include historical and present day context and how to navigate cultural settings. Cultural capability refers to building the capacity and skillset of individuals to engage more effectively cross culturally through professional development and evidence based practice within an Aboriginal lens. This approach includes cultural awareness but builds on this to deliver capacity building solutions for attendees.

YarnnUp has a unique approach to Aboriginal cultural awareness and capability training by blending Aboriginal philosophy with western academia including neuroscience, emotional and cultural intelligence to upskill participants and provide an actionable strategy to walk away with that allows individuals to continue building their capability to engage cross-culturally. Other Aboriginal cultural awareness and capability training programs provide relevant cultural insight but fail to provide adequate tangible skills for participants to utilise in their day to day engagements with individuals, businesses and communities.

Our Aboriginal cultural awareness and capability training can be customised based on the needs of your organisation. We can deliver lunch and learn style sessions which are shorter more express versions or longer format options based on the appetite of the business. Our standard and most popular offerings are a 2-hour session, 4-hour (half day) session and 7-hour (full day) program. We do also have popular 2 day programs, one of which is a deep dive into cultural capability building and involves theoretically and scenario based training on how to engage most effectively with First Nations peoples. Our second 2-day session is an Aboriginal cultural immersion held on country engaging with local traditional custodians and provides hands-on Aboriginal cultural exploration blended with a second day that unpacks theoretical components and methodology on how to most effectively flex on your own cultural values to best navigate cultural discussions and engagement.

Definitely not! YarnnUp was founded based on the evident need for Aboriginal cultural awareness and capability training that was strengths based rather than deficit focused. We showcase how similarities not differences are the key to ongoing cross cultural success and how participants can leverage their own cultural values to create a more culturally aware and capable society.
Yes, we always tailor our approach to ensure maximum relevance and engagement from participants.
The ideal number of attendees we recommend is 15. We are flexible and can cater for up to 25 participants per session and can also provide more focused groups with up to 5 participants for a more catered approach.
We have the capacity to host our clients at our Sydney Head Office with training rooms available. In other states, we have affiliate sites where we can host our clients. Alternatively, our clients can host us at their offices or preferred training facilities.
Yes, we have the capacity to provide our Aboriginal cultural awareness and capability training across Australia. We can deliver our Aboriginal cultural awareness and capability training nationally as our training content does not cover localised Aboriginal or Torres Strait cultural protocols or practices. We respect the independence of First nations communities across Australia. Where our clients wish to have local context incorporated, we engage respected local First Nations peoples of influence to speak about local context and practices.
Yes, YarnnUp provides targeted training sessions to organisations looking to upskill their staff knowledge on the implementation of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP’s) as well as other policy insights and broader First Nations related topics.
Yes, we are happy to work with clients and co-design a training program that fits in with the learning outcomes and objectives of the organisation.
Yes, YarnnUp can work with your organisation to create e-learning or online modules for organisations. This can vary from creating reconciliation content for induction modules through to more in-depth online cultural awareness sessions.
YarnnUp’s cultural awareness and capability training is co-facilitated with an Aboriginal affairs expert as well as a behavioural change and neuroscience practitioner. The training is delivered in a conversational story telling approach allowing for discussion and engagement from participants to unpack thoughts, ideas and sentiments. Participants leave the session with a detailed action plan allow them to continue developing their skills as it relates to more effective cultural intelligence.
YarnnUp offers all our programs online via various platforms including Zoom, Microsoft Teams as well as across other mediums. YarnnUp can deliver the express programs through to our longer more immersive sessions. We customise our approach when delivering online to ensure we maximise engagement and relevance but offer the same topic areas and approach which is two way sharing for two-way learning. There is always plenty of opportunity for discussion, engagement and inquiry.
YarnnUp’s lead facilitators are William Trewlynn and Ray Alam. They are also the directors of YarnnUp. You can find more information on their backgrounds by clicking on the about us tab. There is also a team of national facilitators that work with YarnnUp who have extensive experience delivering this specified training.
Add-Ons

Enhance Your Training Experience

Our programs inspire participants to deepen their cultural competence and take meaningful actions towards reconciliation and inclusion.

Bespoke Consultancy

Tailored support to help organisations build and implement culturally inclusive policies and practices, ensuring that cultural competency becomes embedded throughout the organisation.

Custom Learning Modules

Customised e-learning modules that provide flexibility for organisations looking to deliver cultural awareness training online. These modules can be tailored to meet specific organisational challenges.

Follow-Up Support

Continued support after the training, including check-ins, additional resources, and consultation to ensure cultural competency becomes a lasting part of your organisation.

Enhanced Employee Engagement

Build an inclusive culture that encourages employee engagement and retention, fostering a sense of belonging.

Improved Stakeholder Relationships

Strengthen relationships with First Nations communities and stakeholders by demonstrating genuine respect and understanding.

Contact Us

Ready to lead meaningful change?

Let’s yarn about how YarnnUp’s cultural awareness and capability training can empower your team and drive reconciliation within your organisation.

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