Developed by NCOSS, in partnership with Tranby Aboriginal College, the leadership program was designed for Aboriginal women serving on Boards of Management of community services, as well as those working as managers of services.

The aim was to support and develop the leadership skills of these women.

According to the program facilitator Cara Kirkwood, ‘the research over the past decade has shown that Aboriginal women take on significant responsibility for the well-being of their communities but remain chronically under-represented in formal positions of influence. We want to change this and this program is step in the right direction.”

A unique feature of the program was the inclusion of a series of guest speakers, all Aboriginal women who are leaders in their fields.

Catherine Mahony from NCOSS gratefully acknowledged the generous contribution of the guest speakers, whose advice, wisdom and expertise greatly the enhanced the programme.

The guest speakers included:

• Dr Marlene Kong: Board Member, Australian Indigenous Doctors Association
• Bev Manton: Chairperson of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council
• Glendra Stubbs: Manager, Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation
• Amanda Bridge: Child and Family Services Manager, Biripi AMS
• Donna Hensen:, Coordinator, Indigenous Women's Program, Women's Legal Service, NSW
• Marcia Ella Duncan: Principal Project Officer, Land Alive Conservation Programs and Partnerships
• Nancy Walke - Project Manager, Mirrung Ngu Wanjarri Project
• Dr Dawn Casey - Director, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

This pilot program, funded by the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet , is an important initiative and NCOSS and Tranby are keen to provide program to more Aboriginal women in the future.

Dr Dawn Casey, Director of the Power House Museum, presenting  Certificates of Attainment to the graduates (photographer - Geoff Aitken)	At the Closing Ceremony at Tranby: (L-R) Bev Manton, Chairperson of the NSW  Aboriginal Land Council, Kate Munro, Academic Director & Program Manager Legal Studies, Tranby and Lindon Coombes, Executive Director, Tranby
Members of the support team and some of the graduates: (L-R) Lynn Dickson (AbSEc), Janette Prichard (NCOSS), Catherine Mahony (NCOSS), Cara Kirkwood (NCOSS), Paula Chatfield ( graduate), Adell Hyslop (graduate), Vivianne Freeman (graduate), Tracey Keevers-Keller (Tranby), Jannice Luland (graduate) and Donna Creighton (graduate)

Bill Pritchard, NCOSS Board member and Executive Officer of ABSEC, believes the program has clearly demonstrated its value and should be delivered to more Aboriginal women in rural and regional communities across NSW.

“This innovative program can bring real benefits to the governance of our social services and our communities; it’s about developing the capacity of our greatest strength- Aboriginal women. "

Congratulations to the successful graduates:

• Paula Chatfield (Tamworth)
• Donna Creighton (Tamworth)
• Vivianne Freeman (Redfern)
• Adell Hyslop (Nowra)
• Jannice Luland (Nowra)
• Neita Scott (Narromine)
• Diane Smith (Trangie )

Click here to access a page of more information on the program.

For further information please contact:

Deputy Director
Sector Development/Corporate Services
phone: 92112599