2022 Gathering

About the Gathering 2022

In 2022, the State Service Management Office again hosted a very successful, engaging, creative and heart-warming TSS Aboriginal Employee Network (AEN) Gathering. The gathering took place on the 23rd of November at Clifton Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Clifton Beach.

Smoking Ceremony to welcome our guests

We started our Gathering with a heartfelt Acknowledgement to follow with a Smoking Ceremony led by Nerissa. There is no other feeling than to hear the sound of clapsticks, listen to the words acknowledging our ole people, family and community while connecting our feet to Country with the smoky smell from fresh gum leaves wafting around us.

Sharing knowledge and Cultural Workshops

This year the focus at the Gathering was on sharing knowledge to inform respectful work practices. These are often difficult conversations to have, particularly for Aboriginal employees. With this in mind it was priority to make sure our Gathering space was culturally safe and respectful for Aboriginal employees as well as being safe and respectful for our non-Aboriginal guests.

Creating this space for all participants certainly encouraged deeper engagement, understanding and connections, building respectful relationships and a deeper appreciation for the need for proper change.

Each Sharing Knowledge workshop was ‘secretly’ matched with a Cultural workshop, offering a special opportunity to learn from Aboriginal facilitators, sharing general cultural knowledge appropriate to share with their non-Aboriginal colleagues.

Workshops included the following themes:

Culturally respectful workplaces: Resources to support your learning /
Cultural sharing workshop: Bush foods

We all expect to work in a respectful workplace. Aboriginal employees expect to work in a Culturally respectful workplace. Through this workshop you will find the resources to connect your learning to your actions to help create your workplace being Culturally respectful.

Working with and engaging with Aboriginal Organisations /
Cultural sharing workshop: Women's weaving

The focus at the centre of the priority reforms for Closing the Gap is on changing the way government works with Aboriginal people. It takes more than sending an email to an Aboriginal organisation or leaving a phone message and wondering why no one gets back to you. It’s about building a respectful relationship first, and this takes time.

How to develop and write your own Aboriginal Acknowledgement of People and Country /
Cultural sharing workshop: Understanding and connecting to Country

It has become more common for people to be expected to deliver an Acknowledgement at the beginning of a workplace meeting or function. Have you been asked and declined because you don’t feel confident?

Yarning Circle: Aboriginal Cultural Overload and Cultural Safety /
Cultural sharing workshop: Connecting learning to storytelling

Aboriginal Cultural Overload and Cultural Safety are terms commonly used by Aboriginal employees working in the State Service. Let’s explore what they mean, the impacts and how they might affect the retention of Aboriginal people working in the State Service.

Group conversations

In preparation for the anticipated TSS Aboriginal Cultural Leave provision (which will be finalised through variations to State Service awards by 31 March 2023) the afternoon session focused on the development of a guide to support workplaces and employees. Input from both Aboriginal employees and their non-Aboriginal guests was sought on what they thought would be important and useful to include in the guide. This feedback will form the new Guide. SSMO will be asking for final feedback and comments early in 2023.

Life outside the TSS (Aboriginal employee profile)

In the morning and afternoon, we heard from Aboriginal employees sharing their life outside the State Service. A common theme in each sharing was the centrality of being Aboriginal, the practice of and connections to Culture, Cultural practices, family and community and how each employee draws strength, meaning from kinships and connections to Culture and family. “I am Aboriginal, everything I do is Aboriginal, I don’t know any other way”.

Reflections at the end of the day

Participants were asked to spend time to think about the day, what have they heard? what have they learnt? and what will they do now? -  in the form of a pledge, a pledge to act in their workplace for positive change. Each edition of the Aboriginal Employment Newsletter will include a reminder to continue to act or update pledges.

Feedback

Feedback from Gathering participants has again this year been overwhelmingly positive. Many highlighting their deep appreciation and respect for the ‘safe space’ created for everyone to feel valued, respected, welcomed and safe to contribute to many conversations throughout the day. Comments have included how informative the day was, a balance of fun and heaving conversations, much was learnt and shared, and many gained an even deeper understanding and respect for their Aboriginal colleagues and the work we all do in this important space.

“I always gain strength when a group of Aboriginal people and supporters get together”. Quote from an Aboriginal Employee Network member.

Image Gallery

The following photographs were taken during the 2022 Gathering demonstrating the wonderful, shared experiences of the day. Images are reproduced with permission. Gathering photographer and image credits: TK.

Click on an image to enlarge it, you can them move through the gallery using the arrow buttons on screen or the cursor keys on your keyboard.