Our programs and awards are designed to encourage active and positive participation, inclusion and capacity-building in community. We also deliver awards, which identify and celebrate people and groups whose initiatives, work or causes, strengthen and build resilience in our communities.
Auspire is the Australia Day Council of WA, an independent, not-for-profit organisation founded in 1977. We are a registered charity working towards our vision for Australia to be recognised as a socially and culturally inclusive society and we work with individuals, schools and communities to promote, support and build capacity for social and cultural inclusion. We recognise individuals and community progress through our award programs and deliver inclusive events and community forums featuring members of our Australian of the Year alumni and Inspiring Australian's Network.
Bridging the knowledge gap for more inclusive engagement with Australia’s First Peoples
Scroll down for details on our upcoming public workshops
Facilitated by First Nations’ leaders, participants learn about the culture and history of Aboriginal people, develop their skills in how to better engage with Aboriginal people and are able to demonstrate understanding and respect in order to have more effective relationships.
The sessions are interactive, encourage reflection and inspire commitment towards improving Aboriginal cultural knowledge and understanding. Parts are self-directed to ensure participants connect their learning to their experience and topics covered include:
What are the barriers between Aboriginal peoples and non-Aboriginal Australians?
Significant moments in history that have shaped the way Aboriginal Australians are today.
Cultural beliefs, customs and values, and their role in mainstream Australian society.
Contemporary vs traditional lifestyles, connection to country, community and kinship.
The importance of self-determination and identity
The pathway to wellbeing
Benefits and key outcomes of the workshops include pro-actively applying Aboriginal Cultural Awareness in your relationships, workplace or organisation; real and lasting change through understanding and empathy; improved lives/workplaces for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and an opportunity to demonstrate your Reconciliation Action Plan (if relevant) in action.
Auspire delivers public workshops in a variety of formats including 3-hour online sessions, as well as half-day or full-day in-person sessions. These public workshops are highly accessible as pricing is heavily subsidised.
Auspire can also deliver private sessions for businesses and organisations. Prices for private half-day and full-day sessions are negotiable, based on venue, number of people and catering requirements. Prices range from $2,400 – $4,550 + GST.
If you’d like Auspire to deliver a half or full day session for your team, with our experienced First Nations’ facilitators, contact us for information.
Mr Danny Ford OAM is Noongar man and a senior traditional custodian of Whadjuk Country, with connections to the wider Noongar Country and Aboriginal communities across Western Australia.
He is a qualified teacher and social worker and has considerable public sector experience after almost 30 years across a range of departments, including child protection, family support, housing and training.
Danny has an empathetic and engaging presentation style and a track record of providing cultural awareness training, indigenous engagement advice and business services. He also sits on the boards of the Polly Farmer Foundation, Clontarf Foundation, ICEA and the Wungening Aboriginal Corporation.
Mrs Rosemary Walley is a Wadjuk Nyoongar woman with connections to other clans throughout the southwest of WA. In 2014 Rose completed her Bachelor of Applied Science in Aboriginal Community Management and Development at Curtin University, shortly thereafter moving into a research role with the Telethon Kids Institute. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Rose commenced studying her master’s in philosophy which she is currently completing.
As well as her research and studies, Rose works as a cultural awareness trainer and assists organisations in developing Reconciliation Action Plans. She also lectures in social work with Curtin University and delivers workshops and keynote addresses to various health conferences throughout Australia.
Jonathan Ford is a young Noongar leader with family connections to Whadjuk, Ballardong, Binjareb and other southwest groups. He spent over a decade leading Moorditj Koort, a Health and Wellness centre focusing on education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Kwinana and Rockingham areas. His work includes the development of educational programs that explore ways to improve health and well-being and outreach support. Jonathan is known as a leader in improving the standards of Aboriginal health and well-being, as well as providing opportunities for social and economic growth. His leadership has been acknowledged through a variety of awards including NAIDOC Person of the Year 2018, WA Health Excellence in Service Delivery 2012, and Hesta and the Australian General Practice Network’s National Young Leader of the Year 2011.
Jonathan has sat on many boards and committees across WA including the National Coalition of Peaks Closing the Gap, COAG Joint Council on Closing the Gap, WA Aboriginal Advisory Council, Telethon Kids Institute Aboriginal Reference Group, and Aboriginal Young Leaders Council – Prime Minister and Cabinet. He has spent considerable time with Elders learning the Noongar language and is now a fluent Noongar speaker. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Science majoring in Indigenous Community Management and Development.
Ethan Chadd is a young Whadjuk, Ballardong Noongar man from the Kwinana area, with family connections that stretch as far south as Bunbury/ Albany, as east as Kellerberrin and as far north as Tom Price.
Ethan’s career started in Aboriginal health, delivery services to Aboriginal people, once becoming qualified Ethan then moved into public health specialising in chronic disease management and education. Ethan has since moved into the employment, training and education sector, where he became highly successful supporting organisations to attract, employ, upskill and retain Aboriginal people, as well as reverse market Aboriginal people to support them gaining employment. From this Ethan then moved into chairing, developing, implementing and reviewing RAP’s, Ethan then moved into the OOHC sector, where he became a cultural and diversity specialist ensuring Aboriginal children and other children of different cultures always had access to their respective cultures, healing and family connections within the sector and WA.
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