WORKSHOPS
Monday 28th November, 2011
Thursday 1st December, 2011

Effective service delivery is crucial to 'Closing the Gap' in Indigenous life outcomes.

Gathering Place Health Service Ltd 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 Health Service's proven techniques to improve your own linkages. By attending, you will learn:

• About the Gathering Place Health Service – how one woman's vision has materialised in eight years from one worker to 43 professional staff
• About the Gathering Place Health Service'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)
• How to network, develop and maintain relationships across an array of service providers
• How to generate support from government and philanthropic organisations
• An exploration of the Gathering Place Health Service'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/CEO
Gathering Place Health Service Ltd, VIC

Colleen is a Bidjara woman from Augathella in south west Queensland

Abe Schwarz
Gathering Place Health Service Ltd, VIC

Liz Hill
Healthcare Manager
Gathering Place Health Service Ltd, VIC

Corinne Seibel
Chief Executive Officer
Westgate General Practice Network

Nihal Samara
General Counsel and Legal Director
Kaizen Synergy

The 'Clean Slate without Prejudice' program, developed by community pioneers Shane Phillips and Redfern Local Area Commander, Luke Freudenstein has reduced robberies by 200, an offence predominately committed by Aboriginal youth.

This workshop will illustrate the strong relationships developed between police and the Aboriginal community in Redfern which have substantially reduced crime, recidivism and incarceration, whilst improving aspiration and empowerment of Indigenous people in the local area.

Police relationships with youth and their mentors, along with programs outlining consequences has also prevented young people from incarceration and brought relationships between police and the Aboriginal community to their best yet.

In this workshop delegates will learn how to:

• Develop/strengthen relationships with the local Indigenous community
• Achieve trust, respect and rapport with youths and Aboriginal elders
• Overcome 'us and them' barriers between police and community and instead work together for healthy communities
• Engage both community and authorities in sporting and cultural activities to strengthen intercultural relationships
• Identify youths to develop as mentors who then become role models for others in the area
• Become a community leader to influence and gain buy-in for corporate, government and philanthropic support
• Reduce crime and create safer, happier communities through partnerships

About your workshop leaders:

Luke Freudenstein
Superintendent, Local Area Commander
Redfern Police, NSW

Luke has been a police officer for 30 years and a detective for 26 years. During this time he has had extensive experience in working to reduce crime and improve community morale. He has been in a Superintendent role for six years and the Commanding Officer within Redfern for the last three years.

Shane Phillips
CEO
Tribal Warrior Association Inc.

Shane Phillips is also a Founding Director of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce. Shane has a long history of working to empower disadvantaged Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through organisations such as the Tribal Warrior Association Inc.

Roy Smith
Aboriginal Youth Mentor