About the ‘Leading Our Ways’ Program

The ‘Leading Our Ways’ Program is a culturally centred and practical leadership program for the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait workforce co-designed by our people, for our people.

The program is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the NT who are supporting the wellbeing of our communities, including in health, social services, mental health, education, training, housing, environment, and land conservation.

The program is being delivered by IAHA NT Workforce Development (NTWD) with the financial support of the Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN).

The Program has been designed to promote a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, cultural governance, advocacy, influencing others, community development and Nation building approaches, and how these can be applied within a health context in the Northern Territory.

Guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of working, including knowing, being and doing, the Program develops the attributes and skills to become an effective, culturally responsive Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leader.

The program creates opportunities and a willingness for participants to confidently step forward with the knowledge and self-belief to address the multi-faceted challenges that leadership roles present. The Program engages learners in conversations and culturally centred learnings with experiential leadership activities with the following learning and development outcomes, to:

• Strengthen understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership from a dual cultural and professional perspective.
• Develop personal leadership philosophy, leadership goals, aspirations and how to achieve them.
• Apply key concepts and learnings to interpersonal and professional relationships.
• Develop supportive and effective peer networks; and
• Strengthen skills and experiences of leadership in practice.

Participants complete elements of the Program over a period of about 8 months which is designed to reinforce participant knowledge and provide opportunities to put it into practice. The program will consist of six components:

• Optional completion of IAHA’s Cultural Responsiveness in Action training modules
• Participation in four face-to-face intensive workshops, to be held in several locations across the Northern Territory:

1. 1^st face-to-face session: Alice Springs (29 April – 2 May) 2.5 days     
2. 2^nd face-to-face session: Katherine (week of Monday 17 June – exact dates TBC) 2.5 days
3. 3^rd face-to-face session: Jabiru (week of Monday 19 August – exact dates TBC) 2.5 days
4. 4^th face-to-face and graduation: Darwin (week of 9 December – exact dates TBC) 1 day

• Online learning through webinars on leadership topics
• Engagement in peer mentoring and networking
• Completion of a leadership project which enables participants to apply learnings in a cultural, personal and/or professional area.
• Celebration of success and learnings.

The Program is a significant commitment and will take about 80 hours over a period of 8 months to complete, in addition to travel depending on where in the NT you’re coming from.

Deadline for expressions of interest extended to close of business Monday 8 April 2024

If you have any questions or need support to complete your application, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at IAHA NT Workforce Development via leadershipprogram@ntwd.com.au; or by calling 0460 627 778.